The Los Angeles Lakers parted ways with both players in last year’s center rotation after acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz as the splash deal of the offseason. They let Jaxson Hayes walk — to Kessler’s former team — and traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. That left a hole at the backup center position, which was quickly filled by Kevon Looney.
Looney, 30, is now the oldest player on the Lakers, but also brings with him three NBA championships as a key member of the Golden State Warriors. He was an unrestricted free agent after spending last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, and joined the Lakers on a one-year minimum. He explained the free agency process and how he ended up in L.A., according to Mark Medina of Fadeaway World:
“I knew I was going to be a free agent. I looked at the landscape of free agency and where there was an opportunity where I could play. A few teams called looking for a backup big. LA is a place that I come to all the time. I’m here a lot of the times. I got a lot of friends and family. So to have the opportunity to join the Lakers, I couldn’t turn that down.”
Looney was doing all of his free agency business while also preparing for his wedding, which occurred on Saturday, July 11 in Santa Barbara:
“It was stressful. Leading up to the wedding, I didn’t have a job yet. So you know how that goes. It was a little nerve wracking. But once I had the opportunity to sign and know where I was going to be at, it took a lot of weight off of my shoulders. When free agency first started, I thought, ‘I’m going to have to move to a new city. I’m going to have to do this and do that.’ I still have to move. But I’m already training in LA this summer. So it all worked out perfectly. Her whole family is based out here. So her family is super excited, and she’s super excited. Now that we’re officially married, we get to start our new chapter. We get to do it here. So that’s exciting.”
Looney seems to be very excited to be joining the Lakers, as it was almost a no-brainer for him the way he describes it. He is currently slated to be the team’s primary backup behind Kessler, providing high-level screening and rebounding for Luka Doncic and company.
Lakers still pursuing Jonathan Kuminga
The Lakers currently have 15 players on their roster, but that doesn’t mean they are done building. They are reportedly still in pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga, the free agent former lottery pick fresh off of a strong stint with the Atlanta Hawks.
They will need to execute a sign-and-trade to welcome Kuminga.
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