Los Angeles Lakers: Most likely positions to be filled with last roster spot

By Jason Reed | Sep 19, 2021

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: General manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers (L) talks with head coach Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers (R) during the 2019 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Los Angeles Lakers free agency Dwight Howard

(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Center

The Los Angeles Lakers may have just traded a center away for basically nothing in Marc Gasol but that does not mean that the center position is the most likely to be signed. It should not be completely ruled out, but the difference between center and the top two positions on this list is significant.

The Lakers are just fine at the center position and it is hard to see where more minutes would come from at the five. The team has the exact two-player outlook they had during the 2019-20 season with JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.

Except this time it is Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, who is better than JaVale McGee. Those two are going to account for 40 or so minutes at the position with the idea being that Anthony Davis is going to add the other eight.

If Davis is so intent on not playing the five, which would not be all that surprising early on in the year, then perhaps the team could bring in a depth center to play 8-10 minutes per game. That is the roadmap to the Lakers signing this position. If Davis is committing to more five then it is not happening.

It is much more likely that Marc Gasol’s roster spot gets used on a new forward, but which forward position is the most likely to be signed?

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