Los Angeles Lakers: Questions that must be answered before the season
By Jason Reed
1. Who is going to be the Los Angeles Lakers starting center?
The Los Angeles Lakers biggest hole is at the center position and it is a massive hole. With a team that is so well-rounded elsewhere, the Lakers, at least right now, do not have a great group of guys at the center position.
One of the reasons for this was the Lakers decision to not match Julius Randle‘s two-year, $18 million deal he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. This was surprising, as Randle was not paid that much and the team opted to pay Kentavious Caldwell-Pope $12 million.
Perhaps it was the fact that it was a two-year deal and the Lakers really have something planned next summer.
Los Angeles also missed out on free agents such as Brook Lopez and Nerlens Noel and even reportedly denied DeMarcus Cousins before he signed with the Golden State Warriors.
It seems like the front office has some sort of big plan at the center position, nobody really knows what that plan is.
JaVale McGee is ok as a veteran center but it not fit to be a starting center that warrants a lot of minutes. Ivica Zubac is young and has promise but has not really shown much in his short NBA career. Moritz Wagner has the size but fits better as a stretch four.
Perhaps there is another signing on the horizon for the Lakers. Whatever it is, the center position needs some clarity.