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The Los Angeles Lakers may be set to have lots of salary cap space this summer, but in reality, they will have limited resources when it comes to actually upgrading their roster. A big reason for that is the large number of key incumbent players they will want to re-sign in free agency, including LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
Upgrading at the center position may be at the top of the Lakers' list of priorities when it comes to acquiring an outside player. Per Heavy Sports, one Western Conference executive said that the franchise is fixated on improving at the 5 spot (h/t Lakers Daily).
This season, Los Angeles had Deandre Ayton as its starting 5, and while he played well at times, he was too inconsistent, especially when it came to his overall intensity and effort. He has a player option for next season, and if he exercises that option, L.A. could either seek to replace him or keep him and nab a better backup center than Jaxson Hayes.
But there aren't many realistic options for L.A. in terms of better starting centers. Fans have been dreaming of landing Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, who is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker and is just 24 years of age. However, he will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Lakers may have to grossly overpay to land him, and that sounds like an unwise option, given that he isn't an offensive threat by any means.
Still, with Victor Wembanyama just starting to tap into his potential, and other star centers such as Nikola Jokić, Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns, Chet Holmgren and Joel Embiid still roaming the NBA landscape, most agree that the Lakers need some serious help in the middle.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA executive: Lakers 'seem to be laser focused on a big man'
Continue reading...
Upgrading at the center position may be at the top of the Lakers' list of priorities when it comes to acquiring an outside player. Per Heavy Sports, one Western Conference executive said that the franchise is fixated on improving at the 5 spot (h/t Lakers Daily).
This season, Los Angeles had Deandre Ayton as its starting 5, and while he played well at times, he was too inconsistent, especially when it came to his overall intensity and effort. He has a player option for next season, and if he exercises that option, L.A. could either seek to replace him or keep him and nab a better backup center than Jaxson Hayes.
But there aren't many realistic options for L.A. in terms of better starting centers. Fans have been dreaming of landing Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, who is an excellent rebounder and shot-blocker and is just 24 years of age. However, he will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Lakers may have to grossly overpay to land him, and that sounds like an unwise option, given that he isn't an offensive threat by any means.
Still, with Victor Wembanyama just starting to tap into his potential, and other star centers such as Nikola Jokić, Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns, Chet Holmgren and Joel Embiid still roaming the NBA landscape, most agree that the Lakers need some serious help in the middle.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: NBA executive: Lakers 'seem to be laser focused on a big man'
Continue reading...
