The true modern center has to be able to score and defend at every level. That’s why Anthony Davis is such a dominant force when he plays the five. He can score from anywhere on the court and defend all five positions.
There are modern offensive centers who can shoot the three and defensive centers who can protect the rim and defend the perimeter but Anthony Davis is a unicorn, the mythical player every team covets and cannot find. There are a few young centers like Myles Turner and Christian Wood who can emulate parts of AD’s modern offensive and defensive repertoire but the Lakers’ chances of acquiring either of them don’t appear to be realistic.
While the Lakers were successful playing two traditional low post centers during the regular season, there were crucial moments during the playoffs when both McGee and Howard essentially became unplayable at either end. They clogged the middle and made it easier for teams to pack the paint against LeBron and AD on offense and became liabilities unable to defend stretch fives or guards on the perimeter when hunted and switched.
The time has come for the Lakers to modernize the center position and replace the JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard tandem with a center duo that includes a modern offensive center and a modern defensive center. Replacing two traditional low post centers with a modern offensive center who can score at all three levels and a modern defensive center who can defend all five positions will transform the Lakers at both ends of the court.
MODERN OFFENSIVE CENTERS:
The Lakers best offensive performances in the playoffs came when Anthony Davis played the five, Markieff Morris played the four, and the Lakers used various five out sets to create spacing for Lakers players to attack the rim.
Adding a modern stretch five center to the roster would enable the Lakers to continue to allow Anthony Davis to split his time between the four and five while providing James and Davis with optimum spacing for all 48 minutes:
1. Aron Baynes, Free Agent
The 33-year old Aron Baynes is coming off a career year with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes per game while shooting 35.1% from deep on 4 threes per game. Those were career highs in 3-point percentages and attempts for a center who transformed his game the last three years to become a modern stretch center after rarely taking a three during the first five years of his career.
Baynes brings the kind of rugged physicality to the game that made Howard so valuable, setting bone crushing screens, boxing out hard on the glass, playing tough positional defense, and being in the right place at right time. Aron made $5.4 million last season so the Lakers might be able to tempt him with a slight raise and part of their $9.3 million non-taxpayer MLE and the opportunity to start on a championship team and win a ring.
2. DeMarcus Cousins, Free Agent
Boogie’s supposedly close to being ready to play after a series of debilitating injuries that threatened to derail his career. If he’s healthy and can play anywhere near his preinjury level, he would be a top candidate to re-sign. Before his injuries, he was on pace to shoot 35.4% on over 500 attempts from beyond the arc. With career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, a healthy Cousins is the prototype modern offensive center.
We know Boogie can score inside and out, is an excellent passer, and had a lot of the same skill set as Nikola Jokic but the big question with is can he still defend or have the injuries cost him the mobility and lift needed to defend? The Lakers can likely sign the 30-year old Cousins to a veteran’s minimum contract and his great history and relationship with Anthony Davis make him a leading candidate to be the Lakers’ modern offensive center.
3. Serge Ibaka, Free Agent
The 31-year old Serge Ibaka could be the best overall fit for the Lakers as a modern offensive center because he’s a superior 3-point shooter, rim protector, and shot blocker than either DeMarcus Cousins or Aron Baynes. The problem is he would be more expensive. Serge made $23.2 million last year, which means the best the Lakers can likely offer is their $9.3 million non-taxpayer MLE. Unfortunately, that may not be enough to lure him.
Serge averaged 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 27.0 minutes while shooting 38.5% from deep on 3.3 attempts per game last season. While he’s been linked to the Lakers in rumors, he’s a long shot to acquire. The Raptors want to keep him and he’s already won a ring there. What might make the difference is offering a multiple year deal, which the Lakers may be willing to consider since Giannis may be staying with the Bucks.
MODERN DEFENSIVE CENTERS:
The Lakers best defensive performances in the playoffs came when Anthony Davis played the five, Markieff Morris the four, and the Lakers used speed, quickness, mobility, and athleticism to protect the rim and perimeter.
Adding a modern defensive center to the roster would enable the Lakers to continue to play the aggressive suffocating defense that dominated teams in the playoffs for the entire game rather than just when Davis played the five.
1. Willie Cauley-Stein, Free Agent
The 27-year old 7′ 0,” 240 lb Willie Cauley-Stein is my top pick to be the modern defensive center in the Lakers’ new center tandem. He averaged 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.0 minutes per game last season. Willie’s real value, however, came at the defensive end where he averaged 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals for the Mavericks, impressive numbers for just 23.0 minutes per game. Willie has exercised his player option and is a free agent.
I believe Willie is the closest thing to Anthony Davis as a modern defensive center who can protect the rim and block shots and switch onto guards and forwards and challenge shots beyond the arc or stuff drives to the basket. Willie and AD would create a formidable defensive duo of pterodactyls who could put a suffocating lid on the Lakers’ defensive basket. I would offer Willie half of our $9.3 million non-taxpayer MLE and a chance to win a ring.
2. Nerlens Noel, Free Agent
26-year old, 6′ 10,” 220 lb Nerlens Noel is another young, mobile, bouncy modern defensive center who can protect the rim and defend five positions who would be an excellent fit as part of the Lakers’ new center tandem. Nerlens averaged 7.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in just 18.5 minutes per game. Like Cauley-Stein, Noel’s value was on defense where he averaged an amazing 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in less than half a game.
If the Lakers can’t sign Willie Cauley-Stein, they should definitely pursue Nerlens Noel, who only made the $1.6 million veteran minimum with the OKC Thunder last season. He would be a perfect candidate for the BAE. Considering the great job Frank Vogel did with old school centers like McGee and Howard, imagine what he could put together with a faster, younger, and more athletic center like Nerlens Noel next to Anthony Davis.
3. Tristan Thompson, Free Agent
The 29-year old, 6′ 9.” 254 lb Tristan Thompson is a former teammate and long time friend of LeBron James, who respects his defensive ability and would love to have him join the Lakers as their modern defensive center. While his blocks and steals stats don’t compare with the younger Cauley-Stein or Noel, Tristan has a well deserved reputation as being a smart and talented center who can protect the rim and defend on the perimeter.
The big issue with Thompson is cost as he’s coming off an $18.5 million contract with Cleveland that many considered to be an overpayment and blame on LeBron James who lobbied heavily for the Cavaliers to sign him. Tristan also started shooting 3-point shots last season, taking 23 threes in 57 games and hitting 9 of them for 39.0%. Thompson merits consideration because of LeBron but only if he were willing to sign a minimum contract.
The Lakers single-handedly restored the center position and going big as a viable option last season and have an opportunity to continue the evolution by rebuilding their center rotation to embrace the modern analytics game. Small ball’s never really been about small being better than big. It’s about empowering players who had the offensive and defensive skills of guards and forwards along with the size and length to play and defend the five.
Replacing their two traditional low post centers with a modern offensive center who can stretch defenses and a modern defensive center who can guard all five positions could transform the Lakers into a juggernaut. Imagine how much better the Los Angeles Lakers would be if they replaced JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard with a center who can shoot the 3 like Aron Baynes and center who can defend 5 positions like Willie Cauley-Stein.
It’s interesting how it now appears that all of the Lakers players who had player options appear to be deciding to exercise those options, including AD, KCP, Rondo, Bradley, and McGee. While AD is re-signing and KCP is either coming back or being signed-and-traded, it appears Rondo, Bradley, and McGee are leaving, along with Howard, who is a free agent.
Appropo to my article, it looks more and more like the Lakers will be looking for a new center tandem to replace McGee and Howard, which I think is a great opportunity for the Lakers to modernize their center position to embrace the modern analytics game and transform the Lakers into a dynastic juggernaut. In fact, replacing JaVale and Dwight with Baynes and Cauley-Stein could be the biggest upgrade the Lakers make this offseason.
It’s a move that basically doubles down on what the Lakers learned during the playoffs: that traditional low post centers were becoming unplayable in the modern NBA. Instead, the modern center needs to be able to score on all three levels and defend all five positions. While there aren’t any more Anthony Davis unicorns to add, the Lakers can transform their old school two-headed center into a modern offensive center like Baynes and modern defensive center like Cauley-Stein.
Considering what Frank did with McGee and Howard, I’m excited to think about what he could do with a modern tandem like Baynes and Cauley-Stein or Cousins and Noel. The Lakers have an opportunity this offseason to catapult themselves ahead of the pretenders building superteams and create the basis for the next purple and gold dynasty. Counting on you to make it happen, Rob. Don’t let us down.
Run like hell from those last 3. How many times they gotta prove themselves useless in the modern NBA before you finally close the book on them?
What you’re missing, Stan, is the value of a modern defensive center, meaning a player who can defend all five positions, like Anthony Davis. I’m not really a fan of Thompson but both WCS and Noel are fast, quick, and mobile enough to defend at all three levels – low post, midrange, and 3-point line. The reason JaVale and Dwight became unplayable in the playoffs was they could not defend on the perimeter.
When you think about Vogel’s desire for defense first, Willie or Noel would be great fits next to AD. They would dramatically elevate our defense. Pairing one of them with Aron Baynes would be a dream center tandem for the Lakers and a massive upgrade over McGee and Howard. They would together play around half the game with AD covering the other half.
I feel like McGee sticking with his PO takes us out of the running for all 3. Some of these guys might also have just watched us bench every center for entire playoff series and choose a aplce where they won’t have to sacrifice to AD, bigger payday than we’ll likely be offering (although it’s hard to see that materializing at this point for most of the remaing 5s). I don’t see much of a trade market for McGee, even with Kuzma as bait. The money won’t be a lot so you aren’t likely to find a player making that money that an organization would part with and that we would want. Could happen, feels unlikely now.
I don’t think JaVale signing affects much. No way he’s going to be the starting center. Our top priority is to sign a starting center. Bradley opting out gives us money to pay KCP $12M and still have the $9.3M NT MLE and $3.6M BAE. I think we need to spend the full MLE to get either Baynes or Ibaka and maybe the BAE to get Matthews. I’d be thrilled with that.
I still think there’s a chance we might package a S&T of KCP with Kuz and McGee for Oladipo or S&T for Bogdan. Not likely but possible.
PG: Schroder, Caruso
SG: KCP, Matthews, THT
SF: James, Kuzma
PF: Davis, Morris
CE: Baynes, Cousins, McGee
WCS and Noel are just not NBA players, no matter how much you loved them coming out of the gate. Pair of headcases, absolute zeros on offense, and can still get PnR’d to death on the perimeter. Maybe can block a shot or two inside on occasion, but overall nothing more than some minimum salaried roster spots that may give you 10 minutes of rest.
Great article Tom. I have also read those articles that most of the Lakers players with player option are declining their contracts. I do not know if it is good or bad news for us since we do not have the money to pay free agents. In my opinion, I am hoping we can get Ibaka, Noel, Matthews, and hopefully Markief Morris if cap permits it to be. If we are going to sign and trade KCP, I am hoping that it would be for a significant player. Still refreshing my browsers every 5 minutes for the latest rumors. hahaha
Thanks, Havoc. Going to be one of those Twitter refresh evenings.
Stay healthy and keep your fingers crossed.
My dream Lakers roster after Friday’s free Agency:
PG: Schroder, Caruso
SG: KCP, Matthews, THT
SF: LeBron, Kuzma
PF: AD, Morris, Dudley
CE: Baynes, WCP, Cousins
Tom, Any thoughts on Kuzma moving to starting role in the SF slot, leaving Lebron at PG, with Schroder either starting at SG, or continuing in 6th man role? Kuzma has historically performed better as a starter and depending on school of thought regarding Lebron at the point, might be a way to maximize on Kuz. Schroder is a proven off the bench player and can play both guard spots. I realize moving Lebron back to SF takes a load off at his advanced age, but his performance at point was terrific last year and he does command the ball as both a facilitator and as a scorer. I think this team would benefit more in adding a long wing defender that can shoot the three than having the 3rd “modern style” center. Two “modern centers” on the roster should be plenty, especially since AD is going to move into that slot in “winnin time” when necessary. That additional wing player could be the primary back up at SF, amidst quite a bit of potential position flexibility if the roster shapes up in a similar way to your dream option. Cheers
Hey, Darryll, thanks for the great comment and questions. Like the way you think.
First, I think Schroder is going to start for several reasons:
1. He was not happy coming off the bench in OKC and Woj said the Lakers have promised him a chance to start. Don’t want to risk his not re-signing next offseason.
2. We saw during the playoffs how much better the team and LeBron and AD were when they had a legitimate point guard like Rondo on the floor with them. Because Dennis is a better 3-point shooter, we should even be better.
3. He is clearly now the third star on the team from salary standpoint. Starting point guard is more important than 6th man and I think we have a better candidate for that in Kyle Kuzma.
As for Kuzma, Pelinka made some intriguing comments today about Kyle filling Danny Green’s role defensively and maybe talking extension down the road. I’ve always wondered about Kuzma starting at the two being a way to get around him playing the same positions as LeBron and AD.
I think KCP is going to start at the two, assuming we don’t include him in a S&T and I think we may see Kuzma play starter minutes as the first backup at both the 2 and the 3. He can definitely defend both positions better than the 4.
The key is Kyle has to fix his broken shot and shoot at least 36% from deep. If he can do that, he might get an extension. If not, he will likely be traded before the midseason trade deadline.
Thanks also for the comments re the modern center tandem. I wolud be thrilled if we ended up with Baynes and WCP or Noel. Defending against the three is as important as making them.
I wasn’t up on Shroder’s discontent coming off the bench, so putting him in a starter role makes sense, at least to begin the season (earn your keep). I suppose Kuz at the 2 and Lebron at the 3, is kinda the same as Lebron at the 2 and Kuz at the 3. They’ll match up defensively based on opponents and Lebron won’t be pigeon holed into a role no matter what position – Lebron will play like Lebron for the most part. I think last year’s team only needs a tweak or two. I liked how there was flexibility across positions, the ability to adjust to different game style and tempo, some redundancy in skill sets and styles between starters and subs and how the team seemed to get along as personalities. Of course having Lebron and Davis, you’re already well on the way. However, with player’s opting out, the hand may be forced to do more than tinker. While I’m sure Green brought some great intangibles, he really didn’t play well consistently throughout last season and shot poorly for much of the playoff’s. Shroder for Green is an upgrade IMO and I’m pleased with that change. I wouldn’t mind keeping one of Howard or McGee (preferably Howard) as I think they affected games in a positive way at points when the match ups worked. I agree, that certain aspects of their games are a liability with the new style of game, so replacing one of them with the 3pt, guard multiple position player who can still anchor the post on D would be an upgrade. I’m a fan of Baynes (although not sure about him in perimeter coverage), but haven’t seen all that much of McCauley Stein (will take your word for it). As mentioned previously, I think another great upgrade would be someone to play key defensive minutes on the likes of Kawhi, Durant, George, etc., while being able to stretch the floor on O. Any realistic options out there? Good news, is I have faith in Pelinka and expect he’ll make the right moves to improve and I have faith in Vogel and staff to mold/meld their personnel and game game plans as needed in order to max their potential. On another note ……..great ongoing work on the site …. also great how you evolved from the LA Times days to your own show 🙂
Good comments, Darryll.
And glad you like the new site.
Here’s where we stand right now after McGee opted in and Bradley out:
PG: Schroder, Caruso
SG: Caldwell-Pope, Horton-Tucker
SF: James, Kuzma
PF: Davis
CE: McGee
Free Agents: Howard, Morris, Rondo, Bradley
…
Top Priorities:
1. Starting Center – Baynes or Ibaka? Howard?
2. Shooting Guard, Wing Defender – Matthews?
3. Backup Power Forward – Morris or Green?
4. Third Point Guard – ?
…
Free Agency Assets:
1. $9.3M NT MLE
2. $3.6M BAE
3. $1,6M VME (only cap hit, actual pay depends on years in NBA)
…
Trade Assets:
1. Kyle Kuzma $3.5M
2. JaVale McGee $4.2M
3. KCP $12– 15M S&T
Total $19.7–$22.7M = $24.7M –$28.4M
…
Trade Targets:
1. KCP S&T, Kuzma, & McGee for Oladipo
2. KCP S&T, Kuzma, & McGee for Bogdanovic on $18M S&T
…
My Dream:
PG: Schroder, Caruso
SG: Oladipo, Matthews,
SF: James, Horton-Tucker
PF: Davis, Morris
CE: Baynes, WCP, Cousins
What are everyone’s thoughts on Frank Kaminsky? Had a regressive season last year in Phoenix but that could have been a lot of factors. Has been a decent stretch big and has solid playmaking skills.
I always liked Frank. If the price is right, he could be useful.