3 players the Los Angeles Lakers should try and replace this season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: DeAndre Jordan #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound as Nerlens Noel #3 of the New York Knicks defends in the second half at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: DeAndre Jordan #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs the rebound as Nerlens Noel #3 of the New York Knicks defends in the second half at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2021 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 106-100. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

1. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan has been really bad this season and it was not that hard to forecast when the Lakers first brought him in. While we were all excited because he was seemingly an upgrade over Marc Gasol, you could make the case that he has been even worse than Gasol was last season.

Gasol at least still played decent defense and did not clog the paint like Jordan. Jordan restricts what the team can do offensively as he is clogging the paint for Anthony Davis, and more importantly, he is horrible defensively as a big.

Jordan is old, slow and is not a valuable player in today’s NBA. There is a reason why a contending team like the Brooklyn Nets let him walk for free and there is a reason why the Lakers went on a big run against the Sacramento Kings when Dwight Howard came into the game.

Perhaps the replacement (and this is probably the best move) is to play Howard more and play Anthony Davis more at the five. However, Davis seems to have no intentions on playing the five more than periodically, so that is off the table.

The best-case scenario for the Lakers would be a Kevin Love buyout. Love has history with both LeBron James and Russell Westbrook and would give the team a solid rotation player that can play in the frontcourt without seriously restricting the floor spacing.