Los Angeles Lakers: Everything we learned from the 2018 NBA Draft
By Jason Reed
2. The Lakers are still going to need to pursue a free agent center
The two biggest areas of need for the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the draft were at center and at shooting guard. And while the team did select a big man in Mo Wagner, the Lakers are still going to need to pursue a more traditional big man.
Right now, the Lakers have Wagner, Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant likely sharing minutes at center. Julius Randle can be thrown into that equation as well if the Lakers can re-sign the restricted free agent.
Zubac and Bryant are the only “traditional” centers and they are nothing more than lesser role players. Wagner and Randle are talented, but both fit the power forward mold more.
After the draft, the Lakers obviously still have the need at center while the need at shooting guard is seemingly taken care of; that is if the team actually gets to sign Paul George.
Regardless, the Lakers are going to need to pursue a free agent center this summer to provide a better look at rebounding and serving as a rim-protecting presence. Brook Lopez is not the answer, he gives a similar outlook as Wagner.
The discounted option is Nerlens Noel, who has already been tied to the Lakers. The middle of the road option would be someone like Greg Monroe while the top-tier option would be DeMarcus Cousins.
Who the Lakers go after depends on the rest of the offseason activity. However, there still will be a free agent center in play.