2. Luka Garza
The center position is arguably the position that is up in the air the most not only this offseason, but moving forward. When you look at the team, the Lakers really have no long-term plans for the position.
Andre Drummond is a free agent and is likely going to sign elsewhere, Montrezl Harrell has a player option, the end of his Lakers’ tenure was not the best and he has suitors that may be interested. Marc Gasol is under contract for one more year but he was disappointing and still is a one-year option. Devontae Cacok is not the answer.
The Lakers have no real long-term plan at the position and that could lead the team to draft a center in the draft. This is arguably the easiest position to select in the second round as well, as all the Lakers need is someone with size that can rebound and LeBron James will make the most out of them offensively.
Enter Luka Garza, who Tankathon ranks as the 56th overall prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft. Garza is a six-foot-eleven senior who averaged 27.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last season.
Those scoring numbers are inflated but he is more than capable of being a finisher at the rim that provides a rim-protecting presence as well. And like with Dosunmu, his age is going to make him a contributor earlier than a younger prospect.