The Lakers shuffled their roster quickly, bringing in 7-foot center Lawson Lovering on a two-way deal and waiving AK Okereke to clear a spot. This isn’t some minor tweak, folks. It’s a direct response to Kevon Looney’s underwhelming start to the season, a sign the Lakers are desperate for center depth right now.
Who Is This New Big Man?
So, who is this guy they just grabbed? Lawson Lovering is a legit 7-foot big man who spent last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, bouncing between their main squad and the G League affiliate. His NBA run with Memphis was super brief, just two games, where he put up 7.0 points and 7.5 boards. The highlight was definitely that late-February game against the Jazz, where he dropped 11 points and snagged 11 rebounds on a 10-day contract. But the Grizzlies didn’t re-up him after that. Down in the G League with the Memphis Hustle, Lovering logged 30 games, averaging 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, shooting a solid 59.2% from the field. Interesting note, he didn’t take a single three-pointer and his free throw percentage was a tough 41%. The Lakers swooped in after the Grizzlies waived Lovering from his training camp deal, snagging him before he could even rejoin their G League roster. Talk about being on the lookout for talent, huh?
This Move Screams Desperation For The Lakers Frontcourt
This wasn’t only some random roster churn, though. The Lakers flat out needed another center in the building. AK Okereke, the guy they waived, was always considered a project player, but he just didn’t flash anything special in Summer League or his limited preseason minutes. He was probably the most obvious cut from their two-way signings. Lovering, yeah, he’s also looking like a project player, but he fills a much bigger need right now. The trade market isn’t exactly flush with backup center solutions, especially this early in the season. So, while signing Lovering doesn’t mean he’s gonna be starting next week, don’t be surprised if the team rolls him out there to try something. They’re clearly looking for answers, and they’re looking hard.
This isn’t only about a roster spot, it’s about a team trying to fix a foundational problem on the fly. Will Lovering be the answer, or another stop-gap as they scramble to find some real help? Every game from here on out will be a test of whether this early-season desperation move pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
Leave a Reply