The Los Angeles Lakers should consider signing veteran big man Marreese Speights to fill out their roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers were relatively quiet in free agency this year. Most of their roster movement came prior to and during the 2017 NBA Draft.
As things currently stand, the only addition the Lakers have made to their roster in free agency is in the backcourt. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was signed to fill the hole at shooting guard. To make room financially for Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers waived David Nwaba, who had a non-guaranteed contract.
With Nwaba being replaced by Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers still have two open roster spots. One of those spots will likely go to a point guard. The Lakers had been connected to Rajon Rondo, but he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.
There are other point guards the Lakers could look into signing, such as bringing back Tyler Ennis. Alex Caruso was signed to a two-way deal, so the Lakers have one of them remaining in addition to the two roster spots.
It would make sense if one of those roster spots is given to a big man. One player the Lakers should look into signing is veteran power forward/center, Marreese Speights.
Speights was in contract talks with the Atlanta Hawks according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. But, those talks broke down and Speights will not be signing with them.
Sources: After week-long talks ended w/ Atlanta backing out of offer to Mo Speights, one of market's best shooting centers available again.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2017
Speights will now be on the lookout for a new deal. Rotoworld reports that the Los Angeles Clippers are the only other team to have been linked to Speights this offseason. With very little interest being drummed up in Speights, the Lakers should get into the foray.
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The front court is not somewhere many people would think the Lakers need to add more bodies. Brook Lopez was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets and will be the starting center. Julius Randle will probably start at power forward. The Lakers have good depth with Larry Nance Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Ivica Zubac. Second round pick Thomas Bryant could also figure into the picture.
On paper, the Lakers do not look like they need another center. But, after watching the team play in the summer, adding another veteran at the end of the bench in the frontcourt could make sense.
Zubac has struggled during the Las Vegas Summer League and has acknowledged it. He is still a part of the Lakers long-term plan, but having some insurance would make sense. The Lakers are not going to rely on Bryant being their backup center, at least right away.
Speights would give the Lakers some more insurance in their front court. He could play as the backup center in case Zubac continues to struggle. Speights is a good three-point shooter, which the Lakers have made a point of emphasis of adding this offseason.
By not signing Rondo, the Lakers still have their full mid-level exception. They could offer Speights $4.3 million if they want, which would actually represent a raise for Speights and be the most money that he earned in one season in his career.
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While the Lakers do have some depth up front, adding another veteran into the mix wouldn’t be a bad decision. Having some insurance is always good, and Speights would fit into their plans financially. He wouldn’t cost them more than a one-year deal, so he would fill out the roster this season and not clog up the books in the future.