Many fans expected the Los Angeles Lakers to go out and add another big to the roster to add depth while Mo Bamba is out with an ankle injury. There is no such thing as not enough depth and Los Angeles has the open roster spot to bring someone in.
In fact, the Lakers have had the open roster spot dating back to when they released Matt Ryan earlier this season. It does not appear that the team has any intentions of ever using that open roster spot, though, as they likely would have after Bamba’s injury.
The New York Knicks gifted the Lakers a perfect Bamba replacement option to bring in when they waived young center Moses Brown. His numbers are not great but he is young and has been a G League standout. There is at least more potential there than if the team brought in a veteran who has been out of the league all season.
It all seemed to make sense on paper for the Lakers but it also seems to make sense a bit more for the Brooklyn Nets, who are likely bringing Brown in for the rest of the season.
The Brooklyn Nets are progressing on a deal to sign center Moses Brown, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Brown averaged over four points and four rebounds in just eight minutes per game for the Clippers this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2023
If the Lakers didn’t sign Moses Brown, they might not sign anyone.
There have been a lot of talented options to hit the market since the trade deadline, whether it be via the buyout market or people simply being waived. In these talented options there have been a lot of solid fits for the Lake Show as well.
Someone like Brown (or previously, Will Barton) made a lot of sense on this roster. Instead, the Lakers (presumably) didn’t pursue either player as they both ended up signing with worse teams. Barton signed with Toronto, Brown signed with Brooklyn.
The Lakers have better title odds than those two teams simply because they have Anthony Davis and LeBron James. If they wanted either of those players they would have gotten them as both guys would have likely preferred a better chance of contending in LA.
Losing Brown to the Nets might be the final straw in terms of expecting the team to fill that last roster spot. The front office is obviously comfortable with the roster it has in place and ownership probably doesn’t want to spend the extra money.
Which is fine. A 15th player is not going to make a huge difference. LA just better hope that it doesn’t run into a situation where it needs said 15th player.