A tremendous showing in NBA free agency left the Los Angeles Lakers with 13 players on the roster and two more spaces to fill. While it has been quiet on the Lakers’ transactions page, all signs are pointing to the team bringing in another center at some point.
Rob Pelinka confirmed the Lakers are active on the center market and prefer to bring in someone with a different skill set than Jaxson Hayes. That being said, there are not many options on the market that can play center and space the floor, so the team’s hands are tied.
Thus, the Lakers might simply be waiting for a currently-rostered center to become available to sign. Teams will eventually start trimming the fat of the roster and it could give the Lakers a solid option to bring into the fold.
One name that could become available is former Laker JaVale McGee. The current Dallas Mavericks’ center is even more likely to find a new home next season as his team made another addition to the frontcourt on Wednesday, signing Derrick Jones Jr.
Free agent F/C Derrick Jones Jr. has agreed to a one-year fully guaranteed deal with the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam told @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/z2hPxLDIEn
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2023
Lakers signing JaVale McGee is more likely after Mavericks sign Derrick Jones Jr.
JaVale McGee obviously is not someone who can help space the floor for the Lakers but at this rate, the team may simply be looking for bodies to fill at the center position. The team can make additions in the future to add someone who can space the floor once the buyout market becomes active.
McGee’s future in Dallas was already up in the air. Former Mavericks Director of Basketball Development Brian Dameris told ESPN’s Tim McMahon that McGee was not in the Mavericks’ future plans and that he would either get traded or waived with the stretch provision.
Adding Jones to the roster only strengthens that likelihood. While Shams lists Jones as forward/center in the tweet above, he is more of a small forward/power forward that could play some small-ball center in a pickle. He does not directly replace McGee but he adds more depth to a frontcourt that is already pretty packed.
With Maxi Kleber, Richaun Holmes, Dwight Powell and lottery pick Derek Lively II all on the roster, there really is no need for McGee. If the Mavericks, who are paying the luxury tax, can save some money by stretching McGee then it becomes a no-brainer.
That opens the door for the Lake Show, who would not be getting any floor spacing but would at least be getting a veteran presence as insurance for Hayes if he does not pan out.