Center Marc Gasol could possibly not be back as there is reason to believe he may choose to retire. Even if he does choose to remain, the Los Angeles Lakers should look to improve that position.
Nothing is guaranteed with Andre Drummond. Therefore, the Lakers will need a big man presence.
There are two centers that are intriguing for the Los Angeles Lakers
Nerlens Noel did a great job with the New York Knicks this past season. He’s not a scorer but he does defend the basket well and he is seven feet tall. Noel can also move around as he is a more mobile big man. He plays hard and has a nice edge to him. The Lakers would also most likely be able to get him at a good price.
Another big man the Lakers should look into is Enes Kanter. He is someone that is always hustling and playing hard and can both score and rebound. The Lakers desperately need a rebounder; someone who can easily grab double-digit numbers per game. They also need a big man that can flow within their offense and can be a legit threat on both sides of the ball.
Look, let’s face it, Marc Gasol seemed finished for most of the regular season. He did come alive a bit in the playoffs and hit some three-point shots. However, his best days are long behind him.
Andre Drummond is a very talented player who can both score and rebound and to be quite fair and objective, I felt that he needed more time to get used to the offensive system around him. T
here were times when he looked great and other times when he did not. Drummond does have the ability to get double-digit points and rebounds per night.
Kanter could also be a free agent that comes at a fair price. With all that is going on in Portland, I doubt they will re-sign him as they have to be focused on finding a head coach that satisfies Damian Lillard. Both of these players could possibly help as they would be upgrades as they’re both a bit more mobile and flexible in their play.
The Los Angeles Lakers could also have their eye on JaVale McGee but I feel that these two would be a bit better as they are younger and more polished. It will be interesting to watch as to what will happen but there is one thing that we know for sure and that is that general manager Rob Pelinka does not want to break up the core of this team.
That being said, one would have to define core and what players he means. Probably not the center position.