Los Angeles Lakers: 3 bigs to target in the draft to replace current bigs
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers could see some change at the center position next season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have gone against the grain this season. While most teams are getting smaller and focusing on the three-point line, the Lakers focused on defensive presence and size, which is easier to do when you have two bigs that are uber-athletic in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
As a result, the center position has been sneaky good for the team this season. Even with DeMarcus Cousins’ injury, the Lakers’ bigs have worked out as planned.
JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard are not the flashiest players in the league but they are two solid veterans with NBA Finals experience who have served as great glass cleaners and rim protectors. The two have split playing time almost directly down the middle and both have been exactly what Rob Pelinka ordered.
However, it is not guaranteed that both will return next season. Howard has been really solid this season and has raised his value for free agency after the NBA Playoffs. JaVale McGee has looked really bad in the NBA bubble and that might have been enough to convince the Lakers to move on.
There are various outlets at the Lakers’ disposal, including potential free agents to sign if Howard himself leaves in free agency. One of those outlets is the 2020 NBA Draft as the Lakers currently only the 29th overall pick in the first round.
If the Lakers do go the route of the 2020 NBA Draft, here are three bigs that I personally would love to see the team put high on its big board to replace one, if not both, of the veteran bigs.