The Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely active in the early days of free agency. To compensate for the departure of several key players, the Purple and Gold made some noteworthy signings and trades. Among these, the addition of Kevon Looney is particularly intriguing.
After losing Jaxson Hayes in free agency and trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards, the Lakers were in dire need of a big man. Given the dwindling pool of free agent centers, landing Kevon Looney could be viewed largely positively. However, while discussing the addition, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin also revealed why a three-time champion like Looney chose to sign with the Purple and Gold.
“They [the Lakers] needed some backup centers, right? He had some opportunities around the league. I spoke to someone close to him today who said that he saw it as a clear opportunity,” McMenamin reported. “He saw a parallel between some of the half-court sets that they’re going to run. The way he can free up Luka and AR the same way he freed up Klay and Steph with screens. Multi-time champion.”
“Off the court, he’s a UCLA guy. He spends the offseasons in L.A. He’s getting married this weekend to his bride, who is also a hooper at Cal State. So it’s a happy time for the Looney family, and I’ve spoken to Kevon, and he’s a great guy to have as a veteran leader among this group as well.”
Aside from his personal connection to Los Angeles, Kevon Looney clearly saw good reason to sign with the Lakers this summer. With the potential to be a contributor off the bench for the Purple and Gold, the team will also hope the 30-year-old shines in his new role.
How Does Kevon Looney Fit Into The Lakers’ Rotation?
It will be important to temper expectations with Kevon Looney. At 30 years old, Looney is far from being an old player. However, given the battering his body has taken over the years with the Golden State Warriors, it is safe to assume that Looney isn’t in his prime. Regardless, Looney possesses the tools and experience to be a key rotational piece for the Lakers.
Offensively, Looney doesn’t bring much to the table as a scorer. Although last season’s averages of 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game can be considered an outlier due to his role in the Pelicans’ rotation, his career averages of 4.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game don’t inspire much confidence either.
However, what the three-time champion does bring to the table is toughness and intelligence. Having played alongside the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Looney is immensely well-versed in setting bone-crunching screens and moving without the ball. Given how impactful he was on the rebounding glass, the Lakers can expect more of the same if he stays healthy.
On the stats sheet, Looney seems like a below-average player, but only the eye test reveals how truly effective he could be. Even though he lacks the explosiveness and length to be a lob threat like Walker Kessler, Looney’s experience and off-ball movement could be vital in facilitating the offense. Thus, in terms of acquiring a “service” big man, the Lakers have done well.
While Kevon Looney will earn minutes in the rotation, the Lakers will likely use him as a tertiary option, giving Sandro Mamukelashvili more minutes at the 5 early on. Though this could limit his impact, his leadership and championship pedigree will prove vital in the long run.
