The Los Angeles Lakers can’t rely on Kevon Looney to play 15-18 minutes every night, but he is the only backup center on their current roster. They traded for Walker Kessler and paid him handsomely to be their number three option behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He will play 30-32 minutes every night and shine in Los Angeles. The Lakers need someone to fill the 16-18 minutes when Kessler is on the bench.
Looney is coming off the worst season of his career. He had a career-low 0.109 win shares per 48 minutes and produced a 0.0 value over replacement player (VORP). The 6’9 big man couldn’t stick in the Pelicans rotation. Loon is an elite rebounder and locker room presence, but the Lakers need more than that.
Los Angeles is betting massively on Kessler to clean up defensive mistakes. He will lock down the paint, but Looney struggles to protect the rim. The Lakers need a backup center that allows the three-time NBA champion to move into a third-string role, but they can only acquire one if a trade is struck.
Lakers need to make a trade to land a center upgrade over Kevon Looney
The signing of Ziaire Williams gave Los Angeles 15 players under standard contracts. They have been exploring trades to solve their power forward issues. The Lakers wisely want Jonathan Kuminga, but have struggled to make the deal. Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and Jaden Hardy are being shopped, but LA doesn’t want to give up precious draft capital to dump their contracts.
The Lakers must make moves if they want to seriously contend for a championship. Sandro Mamukelashvili can’t be their starting power forward, and Looney has to move into a third center role. Los Angeles needs upgrades at both positions, but acquiring them won’t be easy.
They are just $13 million under the first tax apron, where the Lakers are hard-capped. They can only add that much additional salary in any move, but they would first have to open roster space. LA has just three second-round draft picks and one first-round swap to offer in trades. Their lack of draft capital and limited flexibility complicate matters.
The Lakers will lock down the glass if Looney is part of the rotation. He also sets screens and has experience winning at the highest level. It was a quality signing, but Los Angeles has to put him in the right role to help him succeed. Loon should be a change of pace option at this point. He is no longer a set it and forget it part of the rotation, especially after his struggles in New Orleans.
The Los Angeles Lakers can’t have Kevon Looney as their only backup center behind Walker Kessler. Sandro Mamukelashvili can play the five, but he is currently the starting power forward. Unless JJ Redick wants his team to go small, there is no solution other than Loon on their roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers still have work to do this offseason. They must find a starting power forward and upgrade at the five. Kevon Looney should be on the roster for leadership and matchup exploitation. The 6’9 big man is no longer capable of making an impact every night.
It is on the front office to make a trade and find an upgrade. Lakers fans can only hope it happens quickly. Luka gives the Lakers a shot in any game. Now, Los Angeles has to maximize those odds by putting the right pieces around him.
They shouldn’t have a Looney problem before he has played a game for the Lakers. Sadly, shouldn’t means they do in this case. The only solution is making a trade and opening up space to sign the best available free agent big man. If not, this issue will only get worse.
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