The Lakers addressed one center need this offseason, but the other one may already be turning into a problem.
After landing Walker Kessler to handle the starting job, Los Angeles turned to Kevon Looney on a one-year veteran minimum deal to shore up the bench. Early camp signs suggest J.J. Redick plans to use the 30-year-old in the rotation, but that plan is drawing skepticism from around the team’s orbit.
Tyler Watts of Lakeshow Life argued that leaning on Looney as the primary backup five could become a costly mistake after what he called a rough run with the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Loon was virtually unplayable for the Pelicans last season, and those were not the first signs of decline. The Lakers are banking on the veteran to be in the rotation, and that will quickly backfire unless there is significant improvement from last year.”
Watts also pointed to the Lakers’ roster-building options - or lack thereof - behind Kessler.
“The Lakers should be exploring the trade market for an upgrade. They are not signing anyone in free agency or developing someone to fill this role.
LA’s options are to stick with Loon, go small in the second unit, or make a trade. Mamu will excel in certain matchups, but the undersized center can’t be the nightly option at the five.
Loon was still a valuable signing for the Lakers. He is the only player on their roster with a championship ring.
Looney is a strong leader, mentor, and example for his teammates.”
He added that Los Angeles would benefit from that presence, especially now that “With LeBron James gone, the Lakers need that as they look to jump into title contention. The purple and gold have 16 guaranteed contracts.
They are required to get down to 15 by Oct. 19.
The Lakers would love to pull off a consolidation trade that lands them a backup big man. They can’t rely on Looney to fill this role.
He is past his prime and no longer able to make a positive impact for a serious contender.”
The concern isn’t just theoretical. Looney’s numbers in New Orleans were shaky across the board. He played in only 21 games last season, posting 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 14.7 minutes per game while shooting 41% from the floor and a career-low 62.5% on attempts from inside three feet.
The on-court results were even tougher to ignore. In Looney’s only stretch with more than three straight appearances, the Pelicans were outscored by 65 points over his 98 minutes and went 2-5. New Orleans also carried a minus-8.1 net rating with him on the floor and was 4.8 points per 100 possessions better when he sat.
Those issues fit a larger trend that started late in his run with the Golden State Warriors. His minutes and field goal percentage both dropped in each of his final seasons there before he moved on.
Still, Looney isn’t bringing nothing to the table. He arrives with championship experience, toughness, rebounding, screening, physicality, and the kind of basketball IQ coaches trust. Lakers insider Jovan Buha previously said he was as good an option as the team could realistically find on the minimum market, and he highlighted Looney’s leadership and championship background.
Buha also drew a line on how much the veteran can be expected to handle. He believes Looney can manage about 10 to 12 minutes a night in the regular season, but he doesn’t see him as a dependable playoff center.
That’s the real issue for Los Angeles. Kessler is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury after appearing in just five games last season, and Sandro Mamukelashvili offers another look at the position, but his size makes him better suited to certain matchups than to serving as a traditional five every night.
If Kessler is sidelined for any stretch, the Lakers could end up asking Looney to do more than anyone wants.
The contract itself carries little downside. Bringing in a proven veteran for the minimum made sense, and Looney should help steady a locker room that has been reshaped.
But there’s a difference between useful depth and a true nightly answer. For a Lakers team trying to contend right away around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, that difference could matter fast. If Looney’s decline in New Orleans follows him to Los Angeles, the Lakers may not wait long before hunting for another center.
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