​The Los Angeles Lakers continued to shape their roster this offseason by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with veteran center Kevon Looney on Tuesday. Brought in to bolster the team’s center depth behind prized young centerpiece Walker Kessler, Looney’s deal is designed to be team-friendly and low-risk for a club hoping to add reliable minutes and veteran know-how. Lakers insider Jovan Buha, however, wasn’t entirely sold on the move, even as the deal drew cautious optimism from others around the league.
As ESPN’s Shams Charania described Looney’s role, he would provide “experience and pick-and-roll play” alongside star guards Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Reaction to the news in real time saw Buha expressing clear reservations about the fit, suggesting that the former Warrior’s impact might be more pronounced in the regular season than in high-stakes playoff battles. Buha’s assessment reflected a broader debate about whether Looney could translate his high-IQ rebound and screen-setting game into meaningful playoff production for a Lakers squad chasing championships.
Looney joins a reimagined Lakers frontcourt that already includes Kessler and stretch big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, with the expectation that the trio will collectively shoulder some of the minutes once occupied by departed centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes. While Looney’s three-title tenure with Golden State underscored his value as a rebounder and basketball-savvy defender, Buha argued that the 30-year-old’s offensive ceiling appears limited by today’s playoff demands. He contended that Looney’s ability to threaten the rim or finish in traffic is constrained, noting that the player’s best asset is often a clean putback or a wide-open dunk rather than sustained offensive pressure.
“I’m pretty underwhelmed,” Buha said, explaining that Looney could be fine in a regular-season context but is unlikely to serve as a playoff difference-maker. He warned about the potential mismatch against top-tier postseason challenges, speculating on how Looney would fare against teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in earlier rounds, and even how a hypothetical clash with the New York Knicks in the Finals might unfold. “I don’t think he’s a playoff player anymore,” Buha added, highlighting Looney’s offensive limitations and consistency issues in tight situations. He suggested that the Lakers would be better served by a different path to strengthening their depth at center.
Buha went on to name several alternative centers he believed would have been preferable to Looney, including Moussa Cissé, Nick Richards, and Jonas Valančiūnas. He argued that these players offer more upside or versatility and could feasibly provide a higher ceiling than the veteran described as a step down from Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. Despite Buha’s critique, the Lakers’ front office likely viewed Looney as a safe, veteran presence who could contribute meaningful minutes in specific lineups, particularly when paired with Dončić. The deal to bring Looney aboard is thus framed as a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for a club balancing immediate needs with long-term development.
In the wake of the deal, Looney’s recent form with the New Orleans Pelicans—averaging 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 41.7% from the field over 21 appearances—factors into the evaluation. Yet, for a Lakers team anchored by a young, high-usage guard corps and a developing paint presence in Kessler, the addition of Looney could offer tangible benefits. With Kessler likely to anchor the paint through elite rebounding and rim protection, Looney’s role may be more situational and rotational than featuring as a heavy-minute centerpiece. This arrangement reduces risk for a franchise poised to compete while exploring a playoff-ready configuration around Dončić and Reaves, potentially elevating Looney’s value in a supporting capacity.
Ultimately, the Lakers’ one-year plan with Kevon Looney reflects a broader strategy: add veteran depth, preserve financial flexibility, and provide a steadying influence for a roster with rising stars and a budding identity. If Looney can contribute efficient minutes, defend capably, and stay healthy, this low-risk signing could pay dividends in the long run, even as fans and analysts debate whether the addition represents the optimal path to maximizing the team’s playoff potential.