The Los Angeles Lakers entered the All-Star break in an excellent position. They are sitting in fifth place with a 32-20 record and are only three games behind the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies. They just got Luka Doncic back and are in a prime position to go on a run in the final stretch of the season.
The biggest question surrounding the Lakers is their frontcourt rotation. After the Mark Williams trade was voided, the Lakers only have Jaxson Hayes and Alex Len as centers in their rotation. Therefore, head coach JJ Redick has been trying a ton of small-ball lineups with Dorian Finney-Smith or Jarred Vanderbilt at center.
Naturally, many fans expect that the Lakers may be on the market for more frontcourt options. One former Laker didn't waste the opportunity to advocate for himself. Stanley Johnson spoke to the media on Friday and said he could fill the small-ball center role that the Lakers are looking for.
Also asked Stanley about potentially playing small ball 5 next to Luka.
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) February 14, 2025
"Yeah. I can play anything. I can guard anything. Can play dribble down, I can play on the wing. I can play pick-and-roll. I was doing that when I was here last time." pic.twitter.com/ZdpIVoMH3n
Johnson is currently with the South Bay Lakers after spending the first half of the 2024-25 season with the Euroleague side Anadolu Efes. The 28-year-old struggled in his first Euroleague stint and returned to the G League earlier this week.
The former eight-overall pick didn't have the career many had hoped for when he came out of Arizona. After bouncing around the league, he landed with the Lakers in the 2021-22 season. He played in 48 games and started in 27 as the Lakers finished 11th in the West with a 33-49 record. Johnson was fine defensively but his lack of shooting and offensive ability doomed him to an exit in the offseason.
While Johnson is a good defender, how helpful he would be for the Lakers as a small-ball center is debatable. The Lakers need more size and length in the position and already have better small-ball options like Finney-Smith, Hachimura, or Vanderbilt.
The Lakers need to cut a player to add anyone to the roster. Cam Reddish is the most obvious candidate there but whether GM Rob Pelinka goes that route remains to be seen.