Lakers SEPTEMBER 28 (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have assembled a roster loaded with talent from top to bottom, but one of the biggest questions they currently face involves the center position.
There has been a debate going around as to who should be the team’s starting center when the Lakers square off against the Golden State Warriors on opening night. They have three options genuinely worth considering, with all of them posing an interesting case to earn the job. While the preseason might help clear up some of the uncertainty, here are the options for coach Frank Vogel to consider at center when piecing together the 2021-22 starting five.
Los Angeles Lakers: DeAndre Jordan could start at center during 2021-22 season
After being waived by the Detroit Pistons, it seemed like an easy decision for DeAndre Jordan to sign with the Lakers. The 33-year-old big man told reporters that he wants to compete at this stage in his career, and returning to Los Angeles, where he spent the first 10 years of his career with the neighboring LA Clippers, gives him the ability to do that. It remains unclear how big of a role he will play for this team, but the center could have a case to start.
Although he is not the DeAndre Jordan of old that was an All-Star due to his relentless rebounding and elite defensive presence, he is still a solid player. In 57 appearances with the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21, Jordan averaged 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per contest. He can still put up passable numbers in a meaningful role and provide that hulking presence at the rim to deter opponents from coming inside. Offensively, Jordan does virtually all of his damage inside, as he shot an eye-catching 76.3 percent from the floor this past season.
Jordan’s hypothetical fit in the starting lineup comes into question when one considers how he will fit alongside the newly acquired Russell Westbrook. The former NBA league MVP has never been an outstanding 3-point shooter, and his desire to consistently attack the rim could be problematic, given how much Jordan plays inside. Jordan is just 1-for-12 from distance over 932 regular-season games in his career, and he is certainly not going to go through a late-career change. The fit is not entirely incapable of working together, as Westbrook played with a similar player in Steven Adams during their days with the OKC Thunder, but it is far from the perfect pairing.
It could work, but Jordan would be better suited to come off the bench for the Lakers.
Bringing Howard back was a solid move for Los Angeles,</a> but time will tell if he sees a much bigger role this time around with another championship in mind.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/06/lakers-weighing-options-starting-center/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Anthony Davis </a>
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<img class="wp-image-435566 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/06/lakers-weighing-options-starting-center/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1314790247.jpeg" alt="Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314790247.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1314790247-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Lakers (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis could start at center during 2021-22 season</h2>
<p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/06/lakers-weighing-options-starting-center/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/davisan02.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">Anthony Davis</a> proclaimed at Media Day <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/06/lakers-weighing-options-starting-center/"https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-09-28/lakers-media-day-lebron-james-anthony-davis-russell-westbrook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that he does indeed expect to play center</a> for the Lakers this coming season. This is big news because Davis has expressed displeasure playing the position in the past, despite Los Angeles playing some of their best basketball when he is there. This new willingness from Davis is certainly because it is for the betterment of the team, particularly his new point guard in Westbrook.</p>
<p>While Davis is not an elite outside shooter by any means, he offers more spacing than someone like Howard or Jordan. That means he can clear the lane and give Westbrook the runway he needs to attack the rim with authority, which would help him thrive in his new environment. Davis at the center position also offers up endless lineup combinations for this team. This could get players like Carmelo Anthony, Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk, and Trevor Ariza, among others, more involved while bringing more 3-point shooting to the table at any given time.</p>
<p>Due to his newfound willingness to play the position, Davis seems like the obvious choice to play center for the Lakers this coming season. Having Howard and Jordan would allow the team to not play Davis at the position each and every night for every minute he is on the floor, but there is no denying that this team is lethal when he is at the five. Everyone is curious to see how Westbrook fits in with this team, and perhaps Davis accepting this role will be the key to unlocking it.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Lakers: Grading their moves during NBA free agency" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/19/lakers-grading-nba-free-agency/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/06/lakers-weighing-options-starting-center/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/09/19/lakers-grading-nba-free-agency/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Lakers: Grading their moves during NBA free agency </a> </div>
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