Zubac or Bryant: Who lands the Los Angeles Lakers’ backup center spot?

The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the preseason with four centers on the roster: Brook Lopez, Ivica Zubac, Thomas Bryant and Stephen Zimmerman. With Lopez certainly occupying the starting spot, a healthy competition between Zubac and Bryant for the backup spot should carry on throughout the regular season.

Despite being labelled a position of decreasing value, stretch-5s that can knock down 3-pointers are some of the most sought after players in the league. Having these players on the court forces the opposing teams’ big man out of the paint and opens up driving lanes for his other teammates. If the stretch-5 can handle the rock a little himself, then sky’s the limit for their offense.

Finding big men that have the length and leaping ability to protect the rim combined with the lateral quickness to hold their own when switched onto smaller, quicker players is the difficult part. This allows teams to simply switch pick-and-rolls and not miss a beat in terms of allowing penetration. In short, every team is trying to find their own version of Draymond Green.

Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant are improving their offensive games to fit the modern NBA, but they lack the speed and defensive capabilities needed to stay on the court for long stretches of time. Zubac impressed in a few spot starts for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, showing a back-to-the-basket game with the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers.

Bryant can post up and make 3-pointers via spotting up or popping to the 3-point line off a screen. Who has the upper hand for the backup center job behind Brook Lopez heading into the season? Let’s take a look at what each player brings to the court, starting with the Zubac.