Jeff Withey could provide cheap rim protection for Los Angeles Lakers

In the quest for some rim protection, the Los Angeles Lakers could find their answer in Jazz center Jeff Withey.

Among the list of free agent needs for the Los Angeles Lakers, a rim protecting center falls right behind a “superstar.” For the last five seasons, Los Angeles has been at the bottom in terms of defensive efficiency. With several shaky defensive guards on the perimeter, the Lakers could use someone in the back who can erase their mistakes.

One answer for Los Angeles’ backline woes: Utah Jazz third-string center Jeff Withey.

Withey’s career has been nondescript between the Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans, failing to average over five points per game in any season. However, he’s always posted solid per 36 minutes stats, averaging 12.2 points and 10.1 rebounds last season. He’s also been a great shot-blocker in his career, averaging 2.7 blocks per 36 minutes.

While not providing much on offense, his defense has been solid in his four seasons.

He’s also a fine rim protector. This past season, Withey’s defensive field goal percentage was 58 percent, three percent better than the normal 62 percent allowed on shots under six feet. The -3.8 difference was ranked third among Jazz players, only trailing Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. The season before, Withey had a -10.2 percent difference, good for second behind Gobert.

Withey makes sense for Los Angeles because he provides a skill Los Angeles needs. The Lakers were tied for last in the league in defensive field goal percentage with Dallas. Withey, even in a small role, could help alleviate Los Angeles’ defensive woes. Having Larry Nance Jr. in the first unit and Withey in the second unit could help boost the defense slightly.

He’s also very young, entering his age-27 season. That should allow Los Angeles to offer him a two- or three-year deal and get his best seasons with their younger core. He doesn’t have much offensive upside — not a good shooter, though his free throw percentage is good — but for the Lakers, he represents another good defender who can help strengthen their defense for cheap.

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Offensively, he doesn’t do much, but he also has some positive traits. His true shooting percentage of 58 percent is a bit misleading because he doesn’t do much of his scoring away from the rim. As a cutter, Withey finished in the 89th percentile as a cutter, resulting in 1.54 points per possession. Withey also finished with a 71 percent score efficiency as a roll man in the pick and roll.

Those two traits – finishing as a cutter, finishing as a roll man – would be vital for Los Angeles’ group of big men. He’ll never be a great offensive threat, but he’s shown that he could be someone who can put together some strong offensive possessions.

The Los Angeles Lakers, despite several big men on the roster, could use a rim protector to help the lackluster defense on the perimeter. It’s tough to get the best of the best, like Nerlens Noel or even Withey’s former teammate, Rudy Gobert. Noel is a pending free agent, but he’ll cost a pretty penny and even then, the Dallas Mavericks could match.

Next: 5 potential landing spots for Gordon Hayward in free agency

Withey makes sense for Los Angeles because he’s still very young, he can defend the rim to the point of stellar results and he’s still pretty young.

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