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The Los Angeles Lakers have solidified their frontcourt for the 2026-27 season after trading Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards and losing Jaxson Hayes to the Utah Jazz.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers outbid the New York Knicks, a franchise interested in acquiring a third center to assist Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, for an elite former Golden State Warriors rebounder and three-time NBA champion.
“Free agent center Kevon Looney has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers,” Charania reported Tuesday.
“The Lakers acquire one of the top available backup centers, and Looney, a three-time NBA champion, provides experience and pick-and-roll play for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after all of those years running screens for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala in the Bay Area.”
Looney’s rebounding efforts helped him make a positive name for himself during his lengthy and successful stint with the Warriors. The UCLA product averaged at least 10.0 rebounds per 40 minutes for all but one season with the Dubs, and finished with a career-best 16.2 boards per 40 minutes during his final season in the Bay (2024-25).
It’s worth noting that Looney isn’t a superb athlete and doesn’t possess the lateral quickness necessary to be a versatile defender, though. That said, sticking to his strengths off the bench should help the 29-year-old carve out a solid role in the Lakers’ Doncic-led offense.
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