The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to add as much talent as possible this offseason and the team is restricted in the ways that it can add said talent. With Russell Westbrook making just under $50 million, the Lakers’ only asset is one Taxpayer MLE contract they can offer. Aside from that, every other addition will be with the minimum.
This was the same situation that the Lakers were in last season and they did effectively bring in the right free agents. The depth was horrible and the only minimum free agent that exceed expectations was Malik Monk.
Monk was also the only young player brought in on the minimum as the rest were veterans past their prime. This should send a message to the Lakers: try and bring in young talent where possible with the minimum.
This is not the easiest thing to do as young players typically get bigger offers but definitely are options out there. The Clippers landed a great option last offseason, who is now a potential MLE target for the Lakers this offseason.
Luckily for the Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers may have just given the team a promising young center that the team can sign on the minimum. According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Cavaliers did not tender a qualifying offer to Moses Brown, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Why Moses Brown makes sense for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency:
Moses Brown has not put up the biggest numbers in his short NBA career and he likely would not play a massive role in LA next season. The Lakers should still bring in another traditional center on the minimum but instead of bringing in two veterans like last season, the Lakers can bring in one veteran and Brown to back him up.
Brown really did not get a chance to play last season as he only averaged 8.6 minutes per game. However, the seven-foot-two center did get ample playing time the year before with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Brown averaged 21.4 minutes in 43 games played, scoring 8.6 points with 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
That is serious potential and while the traditional center is less valuable than ever, he could still add a promising presence to the Lakers’ bench. Heck, his career per-36 averages are nearly 15 and 15. That is not easy to do.
Moses Brown met Obi Toppin at the rim 😳 pic.twitter.com/mpBO7MVE6M
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 13, 2021
The most important thing about Brown is his age. This roster needs a serious infusion of youth and Brown could be someone who sticks around for multiple years. If he impresses the Lakers enough next season he could net another contract next summer. He won’t be that expensive of an option and would actually give the team some continuity.
Continuity is something the Lakers have not had over the last three seasons. Heck, there are only three players on the roster right now that were on the 2020 championship team and that was not even two calendar years ago. That is not how basketball teams should operate.
Predicting where each Lakers free agent lands this offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers have several free agents this offseason. Here is where we think each free agent will end up landing this summer.
Is Brown going to be an All-NBA center? Not at all. Can he be a valuable role player that earns a bigger role in LA? Absolutely.