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The 5 worst Lakers starters of the LeBron James era

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs Avery Bradley #20 after their NBA game victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers hugs Avery Bradley #20 after their NBA game victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /
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Marc Gasol and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Worst Lakers starting center of the LeBron James era: Marc Gasol

Rob Pelinka has had a pretty bad history with the center position. Of all the questionable moves and changes that the team has made at center, the 2020 offseason takes the cake for being the strangest of them all.

After getting serviceable, albeit boring, performances from JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard the team decided to spice it up. LA let Howard walk in free agency and traded a legitimate second-round pick to get McGee off the books. To replace them were Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol.

To be fair to Pelinka, these moves were applauded at the time and nobody could have expected what happened next. Harrell’s struggles in the Orlando bubble were not a fluke and Gasol ended up being one of the least productive starting centers in franchise history.

Gasol started 42 games for the 2020-21 Lakers and averaged a measly 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Defensively Gasol was still serviceable and the defensive metrics absolutely loved him but it was clear to anyone watching the team at that point in time that he was a step too slow and couldn’t hang anymore in the NBA.

That is why the team had to go out and sign Andre Drummond in the buyout market to make him the starting center to finish the season. Even though it was not working, Frank Vogel gave it one last try in Game 6 of the team’s NBA Playoffs matchup against the Phoenix Suns. LA was eliminated with Gasol scoring zero points in 17 minutes.

The Lakers had to trade another second-round pick to get Gasol off the books and he would never play in the NBA again.

Next. 22 players the Lakers gave up on too early. dark