Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts says the Lakers shouldn’t rely on Kevon Looney as Walker Kessler’s backup and need another center. Looney, signed to a one-year veteran-minimum deal, averaged 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game for New Orleans last season.
Watts also says Looney’s minutes and production have declined for three straight seasons. He cites Looney’s replacement-level VORP and New Orleans’ minus-8.1 net rating with him on the floor; the Pelicans were 4.8 points per 100 possessions better without him.
The article says adding another center this late in the offseason may be impractical and names Milwaukee’s Jericho Sims and Chicago’s Jalen Smith as possible targets mentioned since July. It asks whether Looney can cover the role until the trade deadline, when the Lakers could pursue a similar player. Watts argues the team needs another big who can reliably play at least 15 minutes per game by the playoffs; L.A. has one first-round pick swap and a few second-round picks to trade.
