Los Angeles Lakers: Weighing options at the starting center position
By Dalton Sell
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.