The s overhauled their roster in the summertime, and heart y was one of many many new faces they introduced in. Looney was set to be the backup to fellow new arrival r, however the Lakers have shortly realized he isn’t as much as the duty, based on e.
“This staff actually can’t afford to lose Kessler for any prolonged period of time,” Woike mentioned. “The Lakers have already determined that Kevon Looney isn’t a workable backup heart, they usually have restricted commerce belongings to handle that (at a time when provide for backup facilities is low and demand across the league exterior of the Lakers is excessive).”
The Lakers gave up two first-round picks and two first-round choose swaps to the z for Kessler and don’t have a lot draft capital left now. They’ll provide a 2032 first-round choose swap and three second-round picks in trades, and which may not be sufficient to get a high quality backup massive on this present market.
The Lakers simply must hope that the Kessler, who has had a advantageous begin to the season, stays upright. Now, the entire Lakers’ new arrivals haven’t hit the bottom working the way in which he has, however Looney is the one one whose acquisition appears to be like like a transparent mistake at this level. The one optimistic you possibly can level to is that the 30-year-old was l.
Looney performed in every of the Lakers’ first 4 video games, and it seems head coach okay noticed sufficient in them to take him out of the rotation totally. The three-time NBA champion has featured in solely two of their final 9 video games and didn’t even play a mixed 5 minutes in them.
The Lakers have resorted to taking part in t and new arrival i at heart when Kessler sits. They’ve achieved pretty effectively up to now, however you wouldn’t need both of them beginning ought to Kessler go down. It is a little bit of an issue for a staff that has gotten off to a wonderful 11-2 begin to the season.
Now, it’s not as if nobody noticed this coming from Looney, who’s averaging 1.3 factors, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per sport in 2026-27. He seemed like a shell of himself with the s in 2025-26.
The Pelicans had signed Looney to a two-year, $16 million deal in 2025, and it will be an understatement to say he didn’t reside as much as expectations. He averaged 2.8 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per sport in 2025-26.
Looney solely performed 21 video games for the Pelicans final season, and whereas accidents performed an element, he was additionally taken out of the rotation just because he wasn’t taking part in effectively. It wasn’t a shock then that they declined the $8 million staff possibility for 2026-27 and let him hit free company.
The Lakers nonetheless signed Looney, they usually have been warned earlier than the season that e. It in a short time obtained to the purpose the place they determined they may not depend on him.
The problems with Looney are that he isn’t actually a rim protector and isn’t cellular sufficient now to defend on the perimeter. He’s not the form of rim-runner that c needs on offense both.
You do surprise what the Lakers thought they have been getting after they signed Looney. Now, he does convey championship expertise to a roster that doesn’t have any. Looney has received three titles with the s, and nobody else on that roster has even received one. That have may assist this group, however that’s about it.
The Lakers will tackle the 5-6 s subsequent at Mortgage Matchup Heart on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Except it’s a blowout, don’t count on to see Looney out on the court docket.