Luka Doncic’s Former Teammate Could Be Ideal For Lakers’ Big Man Rotation
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently on the verge of entering training camp after a fairly exciting summer. With several free-agent additions to replace outgoing assets, the Purple and Gold look formidable. Unfortunately, missing out on Jonathan Kuminga may force the Lakers to revisit their roster strategy.
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As things stand, Los Angeles still features a solid roster led by the backcourt pairing of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, with Walker Kessler serving as the defensive anchor. While this trio certainly has potential, the starting lineup could benefit from an upgrade.
For the most part, there is an expectation that Sandro Mamukelashvili could be promoted to the starting lineup to replace Rui Hachimura. Even though this has merit, it leaves L.A.’s frontcourt, primarily their big man rotation, slightly thin. To address this, the California Post’s Khobi Price revealed another target in free agency who could be an ideal fit for the Lakers. He wrote:
“After the Heat picked up Nick Richards on a veteran’s minimum contract on Thursday, the list of free- agent big men became even shorter and more bleak. The most significant option for the Lakers could be Dwight Powell, the 6-10, 35-year-old big man who was teammates with Doncic for 6-and-a-half seasons in Dallas. Notably, Powell has played the most games as a teammate alongside Doncic (389) among the 98 players Doncic has played alongside in his eight-year NBA career.”
The Lakers, who have primarily been on the lookout for starting-caliber wings, have also reportedly set their sights on backup centers. While this has seen them linked with several players in free agency, the dwindling pool of talent leaves much to be desired.
As Price mentioned, Nick Richards’ move to the Miami Heat has made matters worse, but it has presented the Purple and Gold with an opportunity to sign Luka Doncic’s former teammate, Dwight Powell.
In many ways, Powell could be the ideal fit for the Lakers. Aside from his experience and chemistry from playing next to Doncic for several years, Powell has proven himself as a reliable veteran with rebounding upside.
Last season, Powell appeared in 63 games and posted 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 64.4% shooting from the field. While he doesn’t contribute much as a floor-spacing big man, his ability to battle for rebounds is promising.
According to Spotrac, the Lakers have $8.1 million in cap space before being hard-capped at the first apron. Hence, acquiring Dwight Powell on a minimum deal is not out of the question. However, with the team’s roster at 16 players, adding another without creating roster space may not be feasible.
Alternative Trade Options For The Lakers
While Khobi Price hinted at players such as Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo, and Mason Plumlee as backup options in free agency, he also shed light on two potential trade targets who may prove more promising after missing out on Kuminga.
After noting the Lakers’ limited draft assets and expiring contracts, Price shared:
“These limitations, in addition to a big man market that has a high demand but a low supply of quality options, are why the Lakers don’t have many trade options for big man depth. But if they decided to go that route, two potential targets would be Bucks center Jericho Sims and Bulls big man Jalen Smith.”
Chicago Bulls big man Jalen Smith has been viewed as a trade target for the Lakers, though there have been no formal reports to confirm interest.
Despite being undersized, the 26-year-old’s athleticism and floor-spacing versatility are valuable tools. When you also factor in his averages of 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game on 48.3% shooting from the field and 37.3% from three-point range, Smith could be a phenomenal addition to the roster.
Aside from Smith, Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims could also be an intriguing option. The 6’10” 27-year-old may not possess Smith’s shooting ability, but his remarkable athleticism may see him emerge as a viable Jaxson Hayes replacement.
Last season, Sims appeared in 67 games and averaged 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 78.4% from the field. Although his defensive impact was relatively low, Sims has the tools to be a capable rim protector off the bench.
Realistically, Smith is a better trade target for the Lakers than Sims, but the Bulls may not be as willing to part with him. This inherently suggests that L.A. has a better chance of landing Sims. Unfortunately, given the Purple and Gold’s needs, the Bucks’ center may not be suitable either.
Overall, this leaves Los Angeles in limbo. While offloading contracts and players to create the necessary cap and roster space is the only way to go, the lack of assets required to complete any deal may force the Lakers to bite the bullet and wait until the February trade deadline to make any roster moves.