The Los Angeles Lakers’ impressive 11-2 start to the season masks a growing internal crisis regarding their frontcourt depth. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the organization has reached a definitive conclusion: Kevon Looney is not a viable backup center. Despite being acquired as a secondary option to Walker Kessler, Looney has failed to meet the necessary standard, leaving the team with a glaring weakness if their primary big man suffers an injury. Woike emphasized that the roster is too thin to absorb any extended absence of Kessler, a reality that has forced management to confront the limitations of their summer moves.
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The Lakers’ inability to fix this issue stems directly from the heavy price paid for Kessler. By surrendering two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles has depleted its draft capital, leaving them with only a 2032 first-round pick swap and three second-rounders as trade assets. In the current market, where demand for reliable backup centers is high and supply is low, these assets are likely insufficient to attract a quality replacement. This financial constraint traps the Lakers in a precarious position, forcing them to rely entirely on Kessler’s health rather than strategic roster flexibility.
While other new arrivals have integrated smoothly into the system, Looney’s acquisition now appears to be a misstep in the team’s broader reconstruction. The contrast between Kessler’s strong start and Looney’s underperformance highlights the high-risk nature of the Lakers’ offseason strategy. With limited levers to pull, the franchise’s success hinges on Kessler staying upright. If that hope fails, the Lakers will face a difficult decision on whether to accept a weaker center or overpay in a market that offers few affordable options, potentially jeopardizing their long-term competitive window.
Source: Yahoo Sports
