The Lakers are off to an unbeaten start, but don’t let that fool you. There are already some seriously worrying signs popping up, and the biggest one might be the team’s lack of depth at center. Kevon Looney, bless his heart, has really struggled in the first three games of the season, and he didn’t even see the floor in the second half of the last two contests. That’s a huge problem.
The Search for an Internal Solution (For Now)
It’s clear as day that Looney isn’t going to be playable in most matchups this season. The Lakers *need* a viable backup center, badly. And while everyone’s mind immediately goes to trades, it’s pretty rare to see deals go down before December 15. So, for the opening months, the team is going to have to look internally. Right now, Sandro Mamukelashvili has been the go-to solution at center, which is fine, but it leaves you wondering if there’s more.
Can Vando Finally Get His Shot at Center?
There’s been a growing buzz for Jarred Vanderbilt, who’s been buried deep on the bench since the preseason started. You have to wonder if this is the time. In theory, playing him at center could be different from his usual wing role. His biggest weakness, that shaky three-point shot, might not be as glaring. Plus, his strengths as a rebounder could absolutely flourish. If the team wants to run a five-out offense without a traditional big man, Vando wouldn’t clog up the lane as much. It makes sense on paper, right?
But here’s the kicker, and it’s a huge one. Vando’s offensive shortcomings go way beyond just not hitting threes. The dude just can’t finish around the rim either. From a scoring perspective, he’s a black hole offensively. There have been zero gains on that end of the floor. That’s the biggest issue keeping him off the court. Defenses are just never going to respect him on offense, which completely throws off the spacing and blows up the five-out offense they’re trying to build.
Right now, with Mamu holding things down, the Lakers don’t exactly *need* Vando out there. But there’s a strong argument to at least give him a shot. Could it play out differently this time around? Could he somehow find a way to contribute and prove that his offensive struggles don’t make him unplayable? With trades unlikely for a bit, the Lakers are going to have to figure out if Vando can really be that internal answer, or if his offensive struggles will sideline him for the entire season.
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.
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