The Los Angeles Lakers made a point of addressing the center spot early in free agency, first by trading for Walker Kessler and then by adding NBA champion Kevon Looney. On paper, that gives them a pair of bodies in the middle. In reality, it still leaves them with a pretty uncomfortable question hanging over the roster.
Kessler brings a lot to like, but availability is the concern. Looney, meanwhile, is no longer the same player he once was, and that creates a real problem if the Lakers are expecting him to hold things together for long stretches.
“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,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.
That issue became even more obvious when Nick Richards came off the board. Richards had been a target for Los Angeles and would have given them a steadier backup choice than Looney, but he instead landed with the Miami Heat.
“Free agent center Nick Richards has agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell ESPN. After signing Klay Thompson, the Heat fill roster slot No. 14 with a reserve big man,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.
With Richards headed to Miami, the Lakers are still staring at the same hole they’ve had all summer. They have Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kevon Looney as options at the five, but that group was already viewed as short on certainty.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kevon Looney who could all log minutes at the five, but earlier summer reports suggested they did not believe that was enough. If they were still hunting for frontcourt help, the easiest solution just got taken off the board,” Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk wrote.
Even after all the work the Lakers have done this offseason, the roster still feels unfinished. The center situation remains unsettled, and with the power forward spot also carrying questions, there’s a lot more uncertainty here than the team would probably like this close to the season.
For now, the Lakers still have a clear depth concern at one of the most important spots on the floor. Rebounding, rim protection, and the ability to survive if Kessler misses time all remain unresolved, and there doesn’t appear to be an obvious fix sitting right in front of them.
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Johnsons path back has been straightforward enough: no qualifying offer left him as an unrestricted free agent, and he reportedly worked out with the team before this return came together. For Miami, its another sign the front office sees value in keeping a developmental piece close to the roster, even if the next step in his role is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Make Another Frontcourt Move With One Big Roster Question
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Klay Thompsons Post-Warriors Chase Just Sent A Clear Message
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For the Heat, it is the sort of addition that brings both hope and expectation. Thompson is trying to rediscover the form that made him one of the leagues most dangerous shooters after a difficult season, and Miami is betting that a change of scenery and a stronger postseason path can help get him there. [Read more 🡒]