Los Angeles Lakers: Rim-running big named their weakest link
By Nick Ziegler
Bleacher Report recently named the weak link for every team heading into the offseason. What did they say was the weak link for the Los Angeles Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to be major players in free agency this offseason with a lot of cap space and a great young core. When free agency starts, the Lakers won’t have a lot of players under contract, but the ones they do are certainly building blocks for the future.
With all of the cap flexibility they have, they will be pursuing some of the elite free agents like LeBron James and Paul George. While both players would make the team instantly better, the Lakers are actually pretty deep on the wing right now.
With Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers have some good size already on the wing. However, room can also be made for James and or George. Recently, Bleacher Report named the weak link for every team heading into free agency and the draft. For the Lakers, they said that a rim-running big man is their weak link right now.
As of now, the Lakers do have some questions marks in their frontcourt. With Julius Randle being a restricted free agent, he could certainly be returning, but the Lakers would likely want to know what happens with James and George.
In addition to the possibility of Randle leaving, Lopez is also a free agent could be playing elsewhere next season. As a rim-runner, Lopez doesn’t necessarily fit in that role, as he is more of a half-court player.
Filling this need might have to happen in the NBA Draft, as there aren’t a lot of options for the Lakers in free agency if they are going to be pursuing big fish. With the dreams of getting James and George, the Lakers would likely be playing a lot of smaller lineups with multiple forwards compared to a traditional center.
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We will have to see what happens in free agency and the draft, but getting a rim-running big is a need for the team as of now. Keeping Randle would be their best option, but he could be a casualty if they sign James and George.