The Lakers Have Three Centers and Still Want Another. Their Logic Is Starting to Add Up.

The Lakers have been busy this summer. Maybe too busy for a team that just watched LeBron James walk out the door. But the front office has a plan, and it involves stockpiling big men like they’re preparing for a siege.

After trading Deandre Ayton to Washington and signing Walker Kessler to a $130 million deal in a sign-and-trade with Utah, the Lakers added Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili. That’s three centers on the roster. And according to The Athletic’s Dan Wolke, they might not be done yet.

“The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men,” Wolke reported, citing team sources. “They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too. The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity.”

So they’re at the cap limit, but still looking. That means someone might have to go if they want to add a fourth center. It’s a weird problem to have, but it tells you something about how the Lakers see the Western Conference right now.

A frontcourt built for Luka

The obvious reason for all this size is Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom just led San Antonio to the Finals in his first playoff run, and the Lakers know they can’t throw small lineups at him. But there’s another layer here: Luka Doncic is extension-eligible next year, and the Lakers want to show him they’re serious.

They already locked up Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184.7 million extension. Then they gave fully guaranteed four-year deals with player options to Kessler, Mamukelashvili, and Quentin Grimes. Collin Sexton’s two-year deal also includes a player option. That’s a lot of long-term money for role players.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger pointed out that these moves raised some eyebrows around the league. “The Lakers’ contractual choices have also been a hot topic — one that seemingly underscores the pressure the front office feels to deliver for a new owner and to impress superstar guard Luka Dončić as he winds toward the end of his current contract,” Hollinger said. “In a summer where most role players, and even some starters, had to either take short deals or accept longer ones without full guarantees, the Lakers raised eyebrows by giving out fully guaranteed four-year deals with player options to three different players.”

Fair point. But the Lakers are betting that continuity matters. If you want Luka to sign long-term, you need to show him a roster that’s built to win now and stay together. Kessler, Looney, and Mamukelashvili give JJ Redick a rotation of bigs who can switch, rebound, and protect the rim. It’s not flashy. But it’s functional.

One more move could seal it. Or they could stand pat and see what happens. Either way, the Lakers have made it clear they’re not rebuilding. They’re reloading, even without LeBron.