The Lakers’ roster shuffle has brought in plenty of new faces, and Kevon Looney is one of the more interesting additions in the mix.
After a decade with the Golden State Warriors, Looney spent the 2025-26 NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans before landing in Los Angeles. He spoke about the move during an appearance on ESPN LA’s Mason & Ireland, and part of the appeal was simple: this time, he gets to line up with Luka Doncic instead of trying to stop him.
Looney already knows what it’s like to share the floor with a superstar guard. He spent years alongside Stephen Curry, and that background should matter as he figures out how to fit with Doncic, even if the two stars approach the game in different ways.
For the Lakers, Looney brings more than just familiarity with elite guards. He comes with three championship rings from his time with the Warriors, and at 30 years old he is set to be the oldest player on the roster. That kind of experience gives Los Angeles a veteran presence the team can lean on after the departure of four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
There’s also a built-in connection that should play well with Lakers fans: Looney is a Kobe Bryant fan, a detail noted by Mark Medina of Fadeaway World.
The Lakers may not be finished adding size, either. Looney was a strong move as Walker Kessler’s backup at center, but the team still wants another big man before the 2026-27 NBA season to help shore up frontcourt depth.
Nick Richards and Jalen Smith have both been mentioned as possible targets, though it’s still unclear which direction the Lakers will take this summer.
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Lakers Had A Very Different Center Plan If Kessler Fell Through
The Lakers center search came into focus this summer when they landed Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with Utah, paying a steep price in two first-round picks, two pick swaps and a four-year, $130 million contract. The move gives Los Angeles a clear answer in the middle, with Kessler expected to start and Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili behind him.
What makes the deal even more revealing is how close the Lakers came to taking a different path at the same position. According to The Athletics Dan Woike, the front office had a fallback plan in free agency if the Kessler pursuit had gone sideways, a reminder that this was not just about one target but about solving a roster need the organization clearly viewed as urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Pivot To A Less Flashy Forward Option Fans Did Not Expect
The Lakers still have a full 16-man roster, but that has not stopped them from looking for a way to sharpen the group before the season starts. After spending time on the idea of landing Jonathan Kuminga, the front office appears to be widening its search and weighing less splashy forward options as it tries to find a move that fits both the roster and the cap sheet.
One path that has surfaced would involve Denver, where financial pressure tied to restricted free agent Peyton Watson could force the Nuggets to listen on a player they might otherwise prefer to keep. Any deal would likely have to be built around pieces such as Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia, but nothing is close to finished yet, leaving the Lakers with another decision to make as they continue to hunt for a useful upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
George Lopez Just Walked Away From The Lakers Over One Issue
George Lopezs recent comments on a podcast landed squarely in the middle of a larger conversation around the Lakers ownership and the public image of Mark Walter. Lopez said he had stopped following both the Lakers and the Dodgers, tying his decision to what he described as Walters connection to detention centers and ICE, a stance that adds another layer to the scrutiny already circling the billionaire sports owner.
The backdrop matters because Walters investment firm, Guggenheim Partners, previously held shares in GEO Group, the private prison company contracted by ICE, before later divesting them. Walter is also under investigation for alleged fraudulent transactions dating back to 2019, which only keeps the spotlight on his business record as fans and public figures continue to weigh how much off-court baggage they are willing to separate from the teams they root for. [Read more 🡒]