While the Lakers still have the top defensive rating in the league, the rim protection from their new centers Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell has not met the standard set last season by JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.
The problem is the Lakers decided to make a major change in how they defend ball screens and challenge ball handlers to prevent the penetration and wide open shots that came from having their bigs play drop coverage. That strategic change was a big reason why the Lakers rolled through the playoffs and won the championship. But it was also why JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard essentially become unplayable during those playoffs.
While McGee and Howard did a great job protecting the rim, they were like fish out of water defending on the perimeter in the playoffs, which led to the Lakers opting to play small with Anthony Davis and Markieff Morris. Unfortunately, Gasol and Harrell have not only failed to to provide the rim protection of McGee and Howard but also haven’t shown the mobility and athleticism required to aggressively hedge, trap, or double on ball screens.
While both Gasol and Harrell have brought valuable skills to the Lakers’ offense that have made the Lakers a better and more versatile team, neither has the ability to bother shots at the rim and switch onto the perimeter. What the Lakers need to fix their defense is a modern defensive center who can not only block shots and protect the rim but who also has the quickness, mobility, and athleticism to challenge ball handlers out to the 3-point line.
While the Lakers will have space under the hard cap in February to sign a minimum contract veteran, their best option is probably going to be a trade. Here are four possible modern defensive centers the Lakers could target:
1. NEW YORK BACKUP CENTER: NERLENS NOEL
Nerlens Noel is 26-year old, 6′ 11,” 201 lb, 7-year NBA center backing up Mitchell Robinson for the New York Knicks and averaging 3.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 16.8 minutes per game.
Nerlens checks both of the boxes for a modern defensive center as he is capable of protecting the rim and defending shooters on the perimeter. He’s not the offensive threat of Gasol or Harrell but a huge upgrade defensively. Noel is currently making $5 million on 1-year contract. With 22-year old Mitchell Robinson established as the starter, the Knicks might be tempted to trade Noel for a veteran mentor like Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews.
While the Lakers would lose the spacing and playmaking Gasol provides the starting lineup, Nerlens Noel would give them a starting defensive center capable of defending all positions and levels to complement Anthony Davis.
2. DALLAS BACKUP CENTER: WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN
Willie Cauley-Stein is 27-year old, 7′ 0,” 240 lb, 7-year NBA center backing up Kristaps Porzingis for the Dallas Mavs and averaging 6.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.4 steals in 18.6 minutes per game.
Like Noel, Cauley-Stein also checks both of the boxes for a modern defensive center as he has the speed, mobility, and athleticism to block shots and protect the rim and switch and defend players on the perimeter. Willie is currently making $4.1 million and the Mavs have a player option for next season. With Porzingis back from injury, the Mavs might be willing to trade Cauley-Stein for a package of Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews.
As with Noel, the Lakers would be trading offense for defense by replacing Gasol with Cauley-Stein but they would be dramatically upgrading their rim protection and perimeter defense and boosting their chances to repeat.
3. TORONTO BACKUP CENTER: CHRIS BOUCHER
Chris Boucher is 28-year old, 6′ 9,” 200 lb, 3-year NBA center backing up Aron Baynes for the Toronto Raptors and averaging 13.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 22.6 minutes per game.
While unproven, Boucher is enjoying a breakout year and is a candidate for MIP. What sets him apart from Noel and Cauley-Stein is his ability to shoot the three as well as protecting the rim and defending out to the 3-point line. Chris is making $6.5 million with a player option next season. The Lakers would need to send Marc Gasol’s 2-year contract, Wesley Matthews, and their 2025 first round pick to tempt the Raptors to trade Chris Boucher.
Boucher would give the Lakers an ideal replacement for Gasol in their starting lineup, a modern offensive and defensive center who could protect the rim, defend on the perimeter, and stretch the floor with his shooting.
4. INDIANA STARTING CENTER: MYLES TURNER
Myles Turner is 24-year old, 6′ 11,” 250 lb, 5-year NBA center starting for the Indiana Pacers and averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 4.1 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.
As the only proven starter among the four candidates, Myles Turner would be the perfect center to play alongside Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, he would also be the most expensive in terms of what it would cost in assets. Myles is in the first year of a 3-year contract paying him $18 million per year. It would take an offer of KCP’s 3-year deal, Gasol’s 2-year deal, and the Lakers’ 2025 first round pick to tempt the Pacers to trade Myles Turner.
Turner checks all the boxes for a modern two-way center. He leads the league in blocks, can defend on the perimeter, and stretch defenses with his shooting. And he has the size and weight to guard Jokic and Embiid.
There’s another four weeks before players signed this offseason will be eligible to be traded but the Lakers are going to be watching and monitoring the above four players and how they and their teams are playing closely. While the Lakers have the option of Anthony Davis playing the five come the playoffs, their biggest roster need is for a long term solution at center to enable them to play the kind of defense that won the championship.
Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein, Chris Boucher, and Myles Turner are all promising trade targets whose age and skill sets are perfect matches to play alongside Anthony Davis and make their championship defense even better.
Note: candidates are in reverse order of preference!
1. NERLENS NOEL: Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews to Knicks for Nerlens Noel. I’ve always like Noel and his ability to protect the rim and defend on the perimeter. He ranked fifth in center defensive ranking. Not much in the back pocket at just 200 lbs to handle Jokic and Embiid, but can defend all three levels and all five positions. Nerlen’s defensive rating was 102.2.
2. WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN: Marc Gasol and Wesley Matthews to Mavs for Willie Cauley-Stein. WCS has been on my radar for years just like Noel. I like that he also has the size and weight to handle big centers like Jokic and Embiid. An elite athlete, Willie would make the Lakers championship defense even better. WCS’s defensive rating was 106.0.
3. CHRIS BOUCHER: Marc Gasol, Wesley Matthews, and 2025 first to Raptors for Chris Boucher. The least proven of the four candidates and only weighs 200 lbs but is shooting 48% from deep and top five in blocks. My second best option because he’s a modern offensive as well as defensive center. Raptors miss Gasol and he has a two year bargain deal and they get a first round pick and save money. Boucher’s defensive rating was 109.8.
4. MYLES TURNER: Marc Gasol, KCP, and 2025 first to Pacers for Myles Turner. The best, most costly, and hardest to get option of the four, especially as well as the Pacers are playing right now. Not shooting as well as the past from three at just 31% but maybe the best shot blocker in the league and the perfect fit next to Anthony Davis. Turner’s defensive rating was 104.4.
Bottom line, four modern defensive centers to replace Marc Gasol.
Let me know which center you think the Lakers should pursue. Thanks.
I would like to see Beal in the Lakers lineup.
Who wouldn’t?
Boucher.
I can’t see Indy trading Turner or the Raps trading Boucher…so that leaves WCS…which is also improbable giving Porzingis health history…he missed their last game. So that leaves Noel. I like his fit and he can probably be had.
Nerlens also has the 4th best defensive rating for centers in the entire league.
And I agree he is obtainable.
Not sure any of the teams above want/need either Gasol or Matthews. Wes has pretty much played his way to the bench. Marc is playing a career low in minutes per game, of the above players only NN plays fewer than Gasol up to this point. The biggest hurdle I can see is Marc’s 2nd year of his deal. Some team is going to have to really value what he brings because you’re getting it for another season. I think you’d have an easier time doing a deal centered around Matthews (makes more, only 1 year), Cacock/Kostas/ and maybe THT. Keep the picks if at all possible to restock the farm, we’ve shown an ability to draft impact players late.
I also don’t see the east coast teams upsetting the apple cart for a tread water kind of trade. I think the most attainable is WCS because Dallas is vastly under-performing and Gasol could start if KP goes down. I’d keep Gasol over NN, don’t see Boucher being moved simply because he’s so effective as is and Indy won’t trade Myles while they’re in contention. That leaves WCS. Which, for me, is kind of a pass. I’d just as soon roll with the team as is.
I do agree it would be tough to get Boucher or Turner without giving up more, like AC or THT, but I think NN and WCS are both attainable. While I like Marc’s ability to stretch the defense, I fear he may become unplayable in the playoffs for same reason as McGee and Howard: inability to defend in space.
What you’re ignoring is what makes Noel and Cauley-Stein different from McGee and Howard. They not only can protect the rim, but also can defend on the perimeter, which is why JaVale and Dwight became unplayable in the playoffs. Nerlens and Willie are both capable of hedging, trapping, and doubling on ball screens and then still getting back to protect the rim.
I mean…they can but it remains to be seen to what degree that would impact the Laker defense. Nerlens Noel is more of a flash defender than substance, in my opinion and WCS has the propensity to be a head case and over-value his contributions. Gasol is cool as a cucumber. My point is are you giving up as much as you’re getting back? Guys like Embiid, Jokic, Vucevic and even Brook Lopez are going to be able to brush NN and potentially even WCS off like a horse swatting flies with it’s tail.
Like I said, WCS is both the most attainable and the best fit. But you’re losing championship (Olympic and NBA) pedigree, one of the best passing big men in the game and it’s not like Gasol isn’t doing his job on D. Adding a versatile, mobile big while retaining Gasol makes the most sense for both the regular season and the playoffs.
Hard to trade for a team’s backup center without giving them a replacement who at least would be a competent replacement and maybe upgrade depending on their needs. Right now, backup is what Marc is. Not a starter.
Only exception might be Toronto, for whom he played a big role when they won and might be a better fit as the backup for Baynes. That he’s one a two year deal could also be a factor as well as that’s he cheap and they’re going to have to give Boucher a big raise to keep him. And it’s not a sure thing he won’t leave like Gasol and Ibaka did.
I think Gasol slows us down into a half court game instead of running. I would give Harrell the start. I like KCP. but as with Kuz, they look the same as last year, no major steps forward on a consistent path. I would trade both plus pick for Beal. That’s just me though.
Would take a lot more than that to get Beal and I’m not sure we’d be a better team with Bradley. There still is only one ball and five guys to defend in the game. We do need to replace LeBron at some point but it’s easier to deal with that then than now in my opinion.
We’re fine offensively, in fact dramatically better than last season. We need to fix the defense both in terms of the center position. Right now, Gasol and Harrell are not as good protecting the rim or trapping and hedging screens and defending the perimeter as McGee or Howard. It’s that poor perimeter defense that led us to dump JaVale and Dwight and Marc and Trezz are not the answer to perimeter defense or rim protection.
Thing is LT, that Nets Big 3 play little to no “D”. LeBron can play very good “D” and AD is a great “D” player. The great thing about Nets is they have 3 great scorers and hard to defend them all. We have AD and LBJ with a couple of good players. Gasol slows us down. I like him and Kuz alot, but they haven’t shown what I hoped for.