5. Moses Brown
Another option for the Los Angeles Lakers at the center position is a young option in Moses Brown. Like Holiday, Brown is a recent member of the free-agent pool as the Cleveland Cavaliers also did not tender a qualifying offer to the seven-foot big man.
There is no doubt that Brown is going to sign for a minimum contract wherever he ends up as he has not gotten many chances to play a consistent role in NBA rotations. When he has gotten that chance he has impressed and the Lakers may look to take a shot on him because of it.
Sure, Whiteside might be more of a guarantee to produce for the Lakers next season but the team obviously is putting an emphasis on younger players. For that reason, the Lakers may just take the risk on the depth center option and sign someone with upside like Brown. If it pans out, the team gets something it has not had: continuity.
The only time Brown has really gotten a chance to play was during the 2020-21 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Brown averaged 21.4 minutes per game in 43 games played, averaging 8.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
Brown’s per-36 numbers from that season are up there with some of the most effective centers in the league. Brown averaged 14.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes. That is nothing to scoff at.
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LeBron James does a great job at elevating centers with the attention he brings as a driver and Smith could learn a lot from the Lakers at the young age of 22. The Lakers also could have a particular advantage in luring Brown in as the seven-foot-two center played college ball at UCLA.