After losing Jaxson Hayes in free agency and trading Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers have found their backup center in three-time champion and screen-setting savant Kevon Looney. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 30-year-old and former UCLA Bruin is joining LA on a one-year, $3.9 million deal.
Lakers Add 3x Champion Kevon Looney as Backup Center
In 21 games (eight starts) for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, Looney averaged 2.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 41.7% from the field, 15.4% from 3-point range and 70% from the free-throw line. Prior to that, he found success up north with the Golden State Warriors, making an impact as a roller and rebounder en route to three NBA titles.
The Lakers acquire one of the top available backup centers, and Looney, a three-time NBA champion, provides experience and pick-and-roll play for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after all of those years running screens for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green… https://t.co/twwzvxFuGI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2026
At 6’9” and 222 pounds, Looney will look to bring that same toughness and championship pedigree to LA’s second unit, likely earning some minutes next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The Lakers now have another solid big man behind Walker Kessler, one who can be just as active on the boards while offering solid defense. Looney also returns to a prominent rotation role after being cast aside on the New Orleans Pelicans, who executed their tank job by developing their young bigs in Derik Queen and Yves Missi.
Though Kessler and Looney are expected to anchor the team’s center depth, other reports suggest they may not be alone. Sandro Mamukelashvili is widely projected to be the starting power forward, but he could also provide assistance as a floor-spacing small-ball five.
Is Looney’s Former Teammate Next?
Looney was likely not the name Laker fans were expecting to hear Tuesday. That honor still belongs to his former Golden State teammate, Jonathan Kuminga, who remains linked to the purple and gold as a potential starting wing. Looney inspired Kuminga to work on his rebounding after the Warriors’ second-round exit in 2023. That work appeared to pay off; in addition to his career-best 16.1 points per game in 2023-24, he also improved his rebounding average to 4.8 per game.
Time will tell if Kuminga ultimately follows his Warriors mentor out to LA, though fans continue to wait with bated breath with the Lakers’ offseason work nearly over.
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