Lakers look to veteran help at center after Deandre Ayton trade, weighing Andre Drummond and Kevon Looney

The Los Angeles Lakers are again shopping for depth at the center position after Deandre Ayton was reported to be leaving the team, a move that would reshape the frontcourt rotation behind Walker Kessler. The addition of Kessler is described as the franchise landing its primary option at center, but the departure of Ayton reportedly leaves the Lakers searching for a backup big who can absorb minutes, protect the paint in relief, and fit the team’s regular-season needs.

Multiple reports connected the Lakers to Andre Drummond and Kevon Looney as possible fits for that specific role. The idea is not just to add size, but to bring in a center with a résumé built around limiting damage during stretches when the starters are on the bench and the Lakers need continuity in their interior defense and rebounding.

Drummond stands out in the current rumor cycle because he is framed as a top-tier rebounder who could maximize the opportunity of a new role. The reports also point out that this would be a return to Los Angeles for Drummond, who previously played with the Lakers during the 2020-21 season. Last season, he is described in the coverage as producing 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in a backup role with the Philadelphia 76ers, an output that would match the kind of “keep it steady” production teams often target from their second big.

Looney, meanwhile, is characterized as a proven veteran option with extensive playoff experience, including an 11-year career start with the Golden State Warriors. Recent context in the reports notes that after joining the New Orleans Pelicans, his playing time was limited, with production described at 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. For Los Angeles, the logic would be different than Drummond’s, relying more on Looney’s positional awareness, physical style, and ability to fit into a system when minutes are distributed unevenly.

The Lakers are also facing a practical roster-building reality: the team cannot enter the season with too few true frontcourt options. Beyond Drummond and Looney, additional names have circulated in the same reporting environment, including other veteran centers, as the front office weighs what is both available and appropriate for the backup slot behind Kessler.

What to watch next is whether any of these discussions turn into something concrete once the market clarifies and teams lock in their own rotations. Because the reporting is largely rumor-based at this point, the most immediate indicator will be which centers the Lakers actually bring in for meaningful opportunity, particularly those who can credibly play center in the kinds of lineups Los Angeles expects to use when they rest their starting big.

For fans, the subplot matters because backup-center minutes often swing games through rebounding totals and second-chance opportunities. In the Lakers’ title picture, that is rarely glamorous work, but it can determine whether the team’s defensive structure stays intact across the full 48 minutes. If the Lakers land a big that matches their intended role, it will likely come down to how quickly he fits into the team’s rotation and spacing rather than any headline-level star power.