When LeBron James left the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, they began a mission to replace him with a worthy supporting cast around Luka Doncic. What followed was a slew of signings designed to give the Lakers what they needed most: perimeter shooting and a strong interior presence.
Their latest signing follows that trend, even if it’s not the most ambitious target to add. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers have agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal for Kevon Looney, a 6’9” center/power forward who brings rebounding, rim protection, and championship experience.
“Free agent center Kevon Looney has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers,” Life Sports Agency CEO Todd Ramasar told ESPN’s Shams Charania. “The Lakers acquire one of the top available backup centers, and Looney, a three-time NBA champion, provides experience and pick-and-roll play for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after all of those years running screens for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala in the Bay Area.”
After being told to “move on” from LeBron, the Lakers had over $50 million to spend, and filling out the frontcourt quickly became a major priority. As one of the few impactful centers available for the veteran’s minimum, the Lakers settled on Looney, an 11-year veteran and three-time champion with career averages of 4.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 57.0% shooting and 17.9% shooting from three.
Looney, 30, always played a modest role throughout his career (across stints with the Warriors and Pelicans), but he’s someone who can make an impact on the court in other ways beyond scoring or playmaking. As someone with the ultimate competitive spirit, he has the perfect mindset for a win-now team, and the Lakers will surely benefit from his presence off the bench.
This summer, after trading for Walker Kessler, the Lakers believe they found their big man for the foreseeable future. Even still, his injury history demands they have some alternatives. Last season, he played just five games for the Jazz, and his health remains in question despite signing a four-year, $130 million contract. They also lost both Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, leaving the center rotation dangerously thin.
Looney is the direct answer to those concerns, and this is an opportunity for him to get consistent minutes on a contending team. While he may not be the same high-impact player he once was, it’s not far from the best the Lakers could have done, especially since they are still pursuing Jonathan Kuminga. Looney is essentially a low-risk, high-reward option that fills a positional need without making any long-term commitment.
This season, it is hard to say for sure what kind of production Looney will give the Lakers, but it likely still won’t be enough to put them on the same level as top contenders like the Thunder, Spurs, and Nuggets. Pelinka and the front office will need to upgrade the roster even further, but it remains to be seen what else they can do with such limited flexibility.
