By Bilal Ahmed
Lakers bolster center position
The Los Angeles Lakers have been active in addressing their center position, securing Walker Kessler through a sign-and-trade deal and adding Kevon Looney in free agency. While Kessler is expected to be the starting center, Looney’s arrival aims to provide depth and a specific skillset to complement the team’s star players.
Looney recently discussed his decision to join the Lakers, citing the opportunity and the connection to Los Angeles, where he has friends and family. He focused on finding a team that could offer him a meaningful backup center role, and the Lakers presented that chance. He also highlighted how his screening, toughness, and experience playing alongside Stephen Curry could benefit Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Looney believes that Doncic and Reaves possess significant “gravity” on the court, creating numerous opportunities for his style of play. He emphasized Doncic’s passing ability, noting it would generate chances for him as a pick-and-roll player. Looney plans to contribute toughness, physicality, and offensive rebounding, while also setting screens to open up scoring lanes for Doncic and Reaves.
The veteran center anticipates that by helping the guards create space, he will also get more opportunities for layups and dunks. He is already reviewing film to understand how he can best integrate into the Lakers’ system. His past experience playing with Curry, who often faced aggressive defensive coverages, has prepared him to work with another superstar like Doncic.
Looney explained that big men need to adapt their screen placement and angles based on how the ball-handler is being defended, whether through blitzes, traps, or drop coverage. He recalled how his previous team often doubled Doncic, suggesting this experience will help him recognize opposing defenses and support Luka by setting early screens, maintaining contact, or making decisions after receiving the ball in a short roll.
Despite his experience, Looney stressed the importance of building chemistry with new guards. He intends to communicate with Doncic to understand his preferences in pick-and-roll situations, asking whether he prefers rolls inside, pops, or short rolls. Looney is prepared to adjust his game to fit Doncic’s needs, stating he will be wherever Doncic wants him to be.
Exploring further backup options
While Looney’s signing adds experience, some reports suggest the Lakers could further strengthen their center rotation. With Kessler as the primary starter, the team’s backup center situation has been a point of discussion. Looney is seen by some as better suited for a third-string role rather than a full-time backup at this stage of his career.
To address this, the Lakers are reportedly considering Nick Richards, who is currently on the open market. Richards has been linked to the Lakers previously, though a deal did not materialize. Bringing him to Los Angeles could offer a cost-effective solution and provide a rim-running big man who can maximize Doncic’s playmaking.
Richards, a 28-year-old, has demonstrated reliability as a lob threat and rebounder over his six years in the NBA. These skills are particularly well-suited to playing alongside Luka Doncic. Last season, Richards averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, shooting 51.2 percent from the field across 48 games with the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.
While Richards may not be a primary rim protector or have an extensive offensive game beyond finishing plays, his ability to set screens, catch lobs, and rebound would be valuable for the Lakers’ second unit. A strategy involving Richards splitting minutes with Looney could be effective, especially with Kessler handling significant minutes as the starter.
Last season, Richards played 48 games, and Looney played games, totaling 69 games between them. If the Lakers could achieve a similar combined game count from Richards and Looney next season, it would put them in a favorable position. The team also has Jarred Vanderbilt and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who could cover additional games if needed.
The center market is described as challenging, and the Lakers have limited assets following the Kessler sign-and-trade. Pursuing Richards is seen as a creative and low-risk move that could enhance the team’s chances of competing for a Larry O’Brien trophy next season. Looney recently admitted that the uncertainty of free agency leading up to his wedding was nerve-wracking, but the opportunity to sign with the Lakers relieved that stress.
Read Also
Source: lakeshowlife.com
