The Los Angeles Lakers revamped their roster this summer, but it left the team with a hole at the five behind Walker Kessler that has to be addressed. Luka Doncic wanted a rim-protecting center to anchor their defense. The Lakers gave up two first-round draft picks and two swaps to land Kessler. It was a wise move, but the front office failed to address the backup minutes.
It was a summer of change in LA. The purple and gold got rid of eight players from last season’s roster, including dumping LeBron James. They wanted the pieces to fit around Doncic. The Lakers got younger and more athletic, but didn’t have the resources to plug all the holes.
There are several questions. Fans are asking who starts at the four after Los Angeles’ failed Jonathan Kuminga pursuit, but the Lakers have passable options. Head coach JJ Redick will have to mix and match to fill the minutes. He can’t do that at center because the Lakers don’t have the talent.
Kevon Looney is no longer a rotation player on a contender
The Lakers signed Loon to a one-year veteran minimum contract in free agency. They needed a reserve big man, but the 30-year-old isn’t the answer.
He averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 14.7 minutes per game last season for the Pelicans. New Orleans wasn’t contending as Looney struggled to stay in the rotation. He rated as a replacement-level player by VORP, and the Pelicans had a negative 8.1 net rating with him in the game. They were 4.8 points per 100 possessions better without him.
Loon has seen his minutes and production decline for three straight. The Warriors moved on for a reason. The 6’9 big man helped Golden State win three championships. They weren’t cutting bait for the fun of it. Looney’s declining and can’t be an every-night part of the rotation. He’s not the only one.
Sandro Mamukelashvili needs to be played in the right matchups
The Lakers signed Mamu to a four-year, $52 million contract this summer to play at the four and the five. He is fresh off a breakout year with the Toronto Raptors and should just be entering his prime. LA made him their fifth-highest-paid player, but coach Redick can’t just blindly play Mamukelashvili as the backup center.
The 6’9 big man must be put in the right matchups to thrive. He can space the floor and make a few plays. Mamu has defensive questions. He will get bullied by bigger players and has issues guarding on the perimeter.
The Lakers know he can be a dynamic offensive weapon. The franchise is clearly leaning into that at the expense of their defense. LA needs to pick spots where Mamu can dominate the opposing second unit and not get exposed defensively.
Playing the 6’9 big man as the unquestioned backup center creates problems. Teams will look to play Mamu off the floor and shift the matchups to create havoc for the Lakers. Los Angeles needs another option behind Kessler to maximize their rotation.
Walker Kessler will be elite but can’t do it alone
Kessler is an elite rebounder and rim protector with a developing offensive game. He showed flashes of a 3-point shot in his five games before season-ending shoulder surgery last year. Luka Doncic will maximize his offensive game by finding him for easy looks. Expect Kessler to become a star in LA, and Redick will determine how the big man is ultimately viewed.
The 7’2 big man can’t play more than 32 minutes per game. The Lakers need to preserve him for the playoffs. Less is likely more with Kessler. Do not be surprised to see him play around 30 minutes every night, which leaves 18 minutes to fill.
The Lakers don’t have an every-night option. Mamu will dominate the opposing second unit big man in some matchups and be unplayable in others. The plan appears to be using Looney when Mamukelashvili struggles, but the three-time NBA champion should be a veteran leader, not a rotation piece at this stage.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a massive hole behind Walker Kessler at the five and no trusted option to fill it. They thought Jaxson Hayes would be this option, but he left for a $12 million contract with the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers have no rim protector behind Kessler. The second unit defense will suffer, and coach Redick will be forced to cobble it together with a combination of small ball and prayers that Looney can survive. It won’t be pretty. The purple and gold must address this hole before the trade deadline. The sooner, the better.
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