The Los Angeles Lakers left themselves without a clear plan for the backup center spot behind Walker Kessler after trading away Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards. There was an attempt at an answer on Tuesday night. If this is the final move in the frontcourt, it is an underwhelming one.
Shams Charania reported that Kevon Looney agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum to join the Lakers. That is certainly not a loud bang. That is a whimper. Looney had a largely forgettable 2025-26 season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The former Golden State Warriors center has been a productive member of the rotation before, but it is more than fair to wonder just how much is left in the tank for him as a strong rotation option. As a third string center, Looney is fine. As a backup? There is justifiable skepticism. Unfortunately, that is the role the Lakers could be envisioning for him if Brett Siegel's reporting is accurate.
"I'm told Kevon Looney chose the Lakers over other teams interested in signing him on a minimum deal due to the immediate opportunity to contribute off the bench behind Walker Kessler and be a veteran leader for a younger team led by Luka Doncic."
Lakers should not settle for ending the frontcourt retool at Kevon Looney
The options in free agency were slim. To the Lakers' credit, Looney was one of the better names available to add to the frontcourt. That does not mean Rob Pelinka should be kicking his feet up and calling it a day.
There should be more moves coming in Los Angeles via trade. Nothing makes that more clear than the lack of official announcements, Jaden Hardy aside, when it comes to all the transactions they have made. The Lakers are still scheming.
If the Lakers are continuing to operate as a cap space team in the hunt for more reinforcements, they should be include a backup center among their search.
They did not want to run back Ayton in a different role behind Kessler this season. Fair enough. There would have been a ton of variables with that gamble.
Looney can be effective in situational minutes, but him being the main guy behind Kessler hardly screams a dynamic one-two punch in the frontcourt by any means. Should the Lakers starting center be forced to miss any time due to injury, things will only get uglier.
Doncic is as good as anyone at elevating big men beyond what they are capable of. However, giving him real talent in the frontcourt only makes the Lakers offense that much more dangerous. Looney is a fine insurance policy as the third guy at the spot, but Pelinka should dream bigger overall.
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