The Los Angeles Lakers are evaluating the utility of center Kevon Looney after signing him to a one-year minimum contract for the 2025-26 season.. While intended as backup for Walker Kessler,Looney's recent struggles in New Orleans have sparked debate over his fit in a championship rotation.
The veteran minimum gamble on a three-time champion
The Los Angeles Lakers have brought in Kevon Looney on a one-year veteran minimum deal for the 2025-26 campaign. According to the report, the 6-foot-9 center brings eleven seasons of NBA experience and three championships from his time with the Golden State Warriors. This low-cost move allows the Los Angeles Lakers to stay within salary-cap limits,particularly following a trade that involved a first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks.
This signing reflects a broader trend of NBA contenders seeking "ring-chasing" veterans to provide stability and locker-room leadership. By adding a seasoned professional like Kevon Looney, the Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to balance a roster that includes newly acquired starter Walker Kessler. This strategy mirrors previous attempts by high-profile franchises to use minimum contracts to add experienced depth without sacrificing future cap flexibility.
A career-low 62.5 percent paint efficiency in New Orleans
However, the numbers from Looney's recent stint with the New Orleans Pelicans are concerning. As the source reported, Kevon Looney averaged just 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds over 21 games, while his field goal percentage inside the paint plummeted to a career-low 62.5 percent. The statistical impact was stark; the New Orleans Pelicans suffered a negative 8.1 net rating when Looney was on the court, and the team went 2-5 during stretches where he played more than three consecutive games.
These metrics suggest a significant decline in efficiency for the 31-year-old center. with a VORP (Value Over Replacement Player) rating that labels him as merely replacement level, the Los Angeles Lakers are facing a dilemma regarding how many minutes can be safely allocated to him without compromising the team's interior defense and overall offensivve flow.
JJ Redick's training-camp vision for the Kessler rotation
Head coach JJ Redick has indicated in training-camp briefings that Kevon Looney could serve as the primary backup to Walker Kessler. the Los Angeles Lakers are weighing whether Looney's expertise in screen-setting and rebounding outweighs his lack of floor spacing.. While JJ Redick values the veteran's championship pedigree, critics argue that a contender needs a more dynamic presence to support a starter like Walker Kessler.
The tension here lies between the intangible value of a veteran and the tangible decline of a player approaching his thirties. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the risk is that relying on Kevon Looney as a primary backup could create a defensive liability that opponents will exploit during the posstseason push.
Will the Lakers trade for a more mobile interior anchor?
The central uncertainty remains whether the Los Angeles Lakers will stick with this arrangement or pivot to a trade. It is unclear if the front office has already identified a specific "more mobile big man" or defensive specialist to target, or if they are simply monitoring the market for a better fit. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if Kevon Looney's contract contains any specific buyout or trade clauses that would facilitate a quick exit if his performance does not improve.
If the Los Angeles Lakers decide to move in a different direction, they may keep Kevon Looney as a deep reserve and mentor while aggressively pursuing a younger asset. This would align the roster with the competitive expectations set by the team's recent acquisitions and ensure that Walker Kessler has a backup capable of logging significant minutes.
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