Los Angeles Lakers: Power ranking the positions by draft need

1. Center

It feels like the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have a game plan at the center position. There are early rumors stating that the Lakers plan to bring Andre Drummond back this offseason but quite frankly, it would not be a good move to do so.

Drummond clogs the lanes and is not the kind of center you need in 2021. While he provides value in his rim protection and his rebounding, the Lakers can get very similar rim protection and rebounding out of someone who is much more efficient near the basket. Drummond is far less efficient than he should be as a center near the rim.

The problem is that the team does not have that person. Marc Gasol is under contract for one more season and he is more of a playmaking/stretch five than he is a traditional rim protector. Montrezl Harrell has a player option that he is most likely going to exercise.

And if he doesn’t, his defense is so bad that the Lakers did not want to use him in the playoffs, so he definitely does not solve anything.

There is no long-term plan at the center position and while it is still likely that the team signs a veteran, it is probably time for the team to draft a seven-footer that they can fall in love with and develop. Best of all, they can contribute now while also developing.