If you have tuned into any Los Angeles Lakers games this season, you should know that they have a painfully obvious concern at the center position. Their big man situation is not where it needs to be, and the summer might finally give them the chance to fix it.
The possible frontcourt fix could be coming this summer
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Los Angeles is keeping an eye on restricted free agents Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren once the team has some cap space to play with. “I don’t see the Lakers being super aggressive and active right now trying to upgrade at that center position,” Fischer said. “But when they get into the summer…they’ll look at the front court and see what type of big man they could potentially get.”
Kessler has been on the Lakers’ radar for a while. While he comes with some injury history, the young big man has steadily improved every season. Over his first four years, he has averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
If Kessler stays healthy, he could provide the defensive presence and rim protection that Los Angeles has been desperately missing. Duren, on the other hand, is having a breakout season on the Detroit Pistons. He is putting up career highs with 17.9 points to go along with 10.6 rebounds per game, including over four offensive boards a night.
Fischer notes that Duren would be a tougher target, but with playoff surprises and shifting team priorities, nothing is ever off the table. The Lakers are looking for players who fit Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves’ timelines. They want guys in their prime or just approaching it. That is why they took a flyer on Deandre Ayton this past offseason.
Ayton can dominate when he is engaged, but he is not consistent enough to be the cornerstone of the frontcourt. Los Angeles needs a big man who can make an impact every night, regardless of touches or how the offense flows.
Right now, the Lakers have their hands tied, and Ayton is their best option, but the gaps around him are clear. Jaxson Hayes has flashed as a lob threat and rim runner, but he has not proven he can be reliable in high-stakes moments.
Adding a player like Kessler or Duren could stabilize the Lakers’ interior, improve their rebounding, and tighten up the paint on defense. That could be exactly what a team led by Doncic and Reaves next season needs to turn a strong season into a legitimate championship run.
This summer may be the window to secure the right big man, someone who can hold down the middle while the stars do their thing. And if they get it right, the purple and gold could finally have the right frontcourt they have been searching for.