Los Angeles Lakers Roster Updates and Trades

The Los Angeles Lakers have been active in the offseason. Rather than focusing solely on LeBron James, the team has made significant changes to its roster.

Key Moves and Trades

The Lakers secured Austin Reaves with a four-year maximum contract. Additionally, they executed trades that shuffled their lineup.

ESPN’s NBA insider, Shams Charania, reported the Lakers acquired Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler by trading multiple future draft picks. They plan to sign Kessler to a substantial four-year, $130 million contract, designating him as their starting center.

In another significant move, the Lakers traded their previous starting center, Deandre Ayton, to the Washington Wizards. In return, they received guard Jaden Hardy and additional draft picks. This trade has led to discussions about potential backup centers for Kessler.

Backup Center Options

The team has several undrafted rookies, such as William Kyle III from Syracuse and Robbie Avila from Saint Louis, who may join the rotation. However, veteran players might be more suitable.

According to Charania, the Lakers are considering veterans Andre Drummond, Kevon Looney, and Jonas Valanciunas as potential backup centers.

All three bring a wealth of experience and solid statistics as reserve big men:

• Jonas Valanciunas, 34, completed his 14th season with the Denver Nuggets. His stats include 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 58.2% from the field.
• Andre Drummond, also in his 14th season, played for the Philadelphia 76ers as a backup to Joel Embiid. He averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with a 47.2% field goal percentage.
• Kevon Looney, the youngest at 30, played for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. He averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, with a 41.7% shooting percentage. Looney’s experience with the Golden State Warriors includes three NBA championships.

Championship Aspirations

The Lakers may value Looney’s championship background. They hope their lineup, including Luka Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler, can compete with Western Conference teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Acquiring one of these veteran centers as Kessler’s backup could strengthen a position that has been a challenge for the Lakers in recent seasons.