Best Available Centers for the Lakers:
5: JaVale McGee
Some Lakers fans would love to see McGee on the squad next season, while others hope he lands on another team.
Those who like McGee have faith that he can repeat his play from the beginning of last season when he was a huge presence for the Lakers on defense. In fact, he played so well during October and November that he was starting to garner some attention as a dark horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Fans who don’t like McGee focus on his play during the second half of last season, when he stopped trying on defense and could barely break Luke Walton’s rotation.
McGee should be available at the veteran minimum and he could be a cost-effective choice for the Lakers as a backup center.
4: Noah Vonleh
Vonleh played well last season for the Knicks, but one has to wonder why New York hasn’t re-signed him yet.
Perhaps it’s because he’s only 6’9″, which is small for a center or maybe it was his 2.5 block percentage, which was one of the worst in the NBA out of all starting centers.
It’s hard to know what New York’s GM is thinking, but Vonleh was solid last season. He was helpful on defense and his 3-point stroke has improved every season.
He’d be a nice addition for the Lakers.
3: JaMychal Green
Green is the most talented player on this list (that includes Cousins after his Achilles tear), but at 6’9″ he’s too small to log extended minutes at center.
Offensively, Green would be a perfect fit for the Lakers, because he shot 40% from deep last season on three attempts per game.
Defense is another story, though. Green has a career average of 0.4 blocks per game, which means that he wouldn’t be able to help the Lakers protect the paint.
Green is in his prime and he’s a very talented all-around player, so the Lakers should try to add him and let him be the first big off the bench.
2: DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins has the name recognition that others on this list lack, but since his return from injury he hasn’t looked great.
He was a step slow on defense last season and at times it looked like he could only jump three inches off the ground.
On offense, he had no burst and the quick feet he used to use to dance around the perimeter were nonexistent. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of his game last season was the fact that his 3-point percentage dipped from 35% in 2017-2018 to 27%.
DeMarcus Cousins would be a great addition to the Lakers as a backup center, but he’d never agree to be the first big off the bench, which limits his fit on the Purple and Gold.
1: Willie Cauley-Stein
The Sacramento Kings just renounced the rights to Willie Cauley-Stein making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Kings’ complete lack of interest in Willie comes as a surprise considering he led the team in value over replacement (2.3), was first among all Kings regular rotation players in offensive rating (118), and he was second in defensive box plus/minus (2.2)
Is this another case of the Kings being the Kings? Or do they know something the rest of the league doesn’t?
It’s probably the Kings outsmarting themselves like usual. Cauley-Stein is just 25-year-old and he’s springy in the middle and quick on the perimeter. He’s the rare defensive player who can truly cover all five positions on the court.
On offense, he doesn’t have a developed post game or a reliable midrange jump shot, but he rolls to the rim hard and once he gets close to the rack he finishes well (71% from 0-3 feet)
Willie Cauley-Stein would be a great get for the Lakers because he’s talented and fills a huge need.