The Los Angeles Lakers made some big moves this summer, but one of them feels like a major gamble on center depth. They landed Walker Kessler, which is huge, but the real talk is about who’s behind him. Right now, Kevon Looney is their ONLY true backup big man, and that’s got some folks seriously worried as the season gets rolling.
This Center Depth Is a Risky Business
Seriously, having just one backup for Kessler? That’s a massive risk heading into the regular season. Tyler Watts over at Lake Show Life absolutely nailed it, writing, “This signing was a gamble. Loon was a replacement-level player last season. The Lakers clearly believe he will be better, but they need another option. Going into the season with just two true centers is a problem. If Kessler is forced to miss time, the Lakers have serious issues on defense and at the five.” No kidding! If Kessler goes down, their defense and interior game are in big trouble, and that’s not how you wanna start the season.
The Search Is On For a Familiar Face
It’s no surprise the Lakers are still hunting for more big men. The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that “The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic. They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too. The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity.” That “full capacity” part means any move is gonna take some serious maneuvering.
This is where it gets really interesting, because SI’s Austin Veazey threw out a name that just makes too much sense: Dwight Powell. This dude has already pulled in $83 million throughout his career, and he’s got some seriously deep connections to the Lakers’ new coaching staff. Powell played for the Mavericks when current Lakers head coach JJ Redick was there for the last half of the 2020-21 season. Plus, the Lakers just traded for Jaden Hardy this offseason, another former Mav. That existing connection to Redick and Luka Doncic could make Powell slide right into the system like he’s been there forever. Powell’s athleticism and his reputation as an effective rim runner? That’s exactly the kind of different element the Lakers need at center.
With the Lakers clearly searching for another center, Powell really stands out as one of the best options remaining on the market. If they can snag him, it could solve a major headache before it even starts. If not? Well, let’s just say they’d be playing with fire. The stakes are high for LA to shore up that frontcourt ASAP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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