The Lakers got their A-list center, reportedly trading for Walker Kessler, but the frontcourt remains an area that needs to be addressed.
Jaxson Hayes will reportedly play with the Jazz next season and with Deandre Ayton heading to the Wizards, LA suddenly has a need for a backup big.
Now, the Lakers are focused on addressing this as they look for a center in free agency. Names like Andre Drummond and Kevon Looney are being reported as potential options.
Drummond is an unrestricted free agent, and while the Lakers might not have a ton of money to spend as things stand, clearly minutes are up for grabs. The elite rebounder could come in and make the most of the opportunity by making his mark as a Laker.
This would be Drummond’s return to LA. He was with the team during the 2020-21 season. Last year, as a backup with the Sixers, he averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Drummond is a player people in the NBA reportedly like with the Lakers, so maybe this reunion makes sense for both sides.
If not, then perhaps Kevon Looney or Jonas Valančiūnas are the bigs the Lakers will sign.
Looney is an 11-year vet who spent his first decade with the Warriors. Last season, he joined the Pelicans but played limited minutes. He averaged just 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
Valančiūnas is a name that’s been linked to the Lakers for years now.
He played in 65 games for the Nuggets last season, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. As a backup in LA, he would make a ton of sense, providing size and strength, along with rebounding and scoring ability.
The reported trade involving Ayton is a surprise, but it all but guarantees that other moves are coming. The Lakers can’t enter the season with so few bigs, so whether it’s Drummond, Looney, Valančiūnas, or someone else, more frontcourt help will have to be arriving.
Stay tuned Lakers fans, the front office is cooking. Hopefully, it’s something everyone will want to eat.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
