Los Angeles Lakers: Top 2020 NBA Draft options to join LeBron James, Anthony Davis

Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke

Who didn’t love what the Lakers did at center this season? JaVale McGee was a defensive nightmare and putback/lob specialist on offense. Dwight Howard enjoyed a resurgence, owning the glass and doing his own damage as a dominant presence in the paint on offense.

Unfortunately, it’s unclear what this group will look like in 2020-21.

McGee is still under contract, but he isn’t getting any younger at 32 years of age. Howard is a free agent this offseason, and might find more money elsewhere after reviving his career in Los Angeles. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Howard stayed, but he’s also not a long-term answer at the ripe age of 34. The Lakers need a young big man who can develop into the center of the future.

That’s where someone like Vernon Carey Jr. comes into the mix.

Now in all honestly, the Lakers would be lucky to see him fall to the end of the first round. A former five-star recruit, he didn’t quite live up to his billing as a star at Duke. And yet, given his potential, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone rolled the dice before Los Angeles makes their selection. With that said, anything is possible on draft day.

If Carey continues to slide, the Lakers would be crazy not to scoop him up. At 6’10”, 270 lbs, he’s an imposing presence in the paint who can own the boards (14.1 rebounds per 40 minutes in 2019-20) deliver on the offensive end (28.6 points per 40). While he wasn’t an elite rim protector during his one year at Duke, he’s got the physical tools to develop into one.

Carey is more of an old-school big, relying on power and strength rather than athleticism and versatility to win. While that may be the case, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t bring back the bruising big for the Lakers — it’s worked for them in the past.