Los Angeles Lakers: Free Agent Bigs to Consider

In the upcoming offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers will be feverishly looking to add some youth and athleticism to an aging roster, but the lockout may have something to say about that. The lockout will prove to be irritating to many organizations, especially for teams like the Lakers (way over the salary cap type of teams) who'll have limited resources (cap space) to begin with. 

The Lakers will look to add a guard or two (probably a shooter and a defender) to an aging backcourt, lead by a superstar who has diminished somewhat and a sidekick that is probably on his last legs. Steve Blake can't get any worse, right? Shannon will probably exercise his player option, leaving a roster spot or two for the front office to fill in either through free agency or the draft.

One of those roster openings will be filled with a big man. The Lakers have lacked a solid big man (Odom is a starter in my eyes) since the 2007-2008 season, when Ronny Turiaf occupied that role. The Lakers have the best frontcourt in the NBA, but Bynum has proven over the years that he cannot stay healthy when needed.

When Bynum is out of the lineup, the Lakers relied on Joe Smith and Theo Ratlif to provide frontcourt support. Both guys gave the Lakers nothing last season, and maybe it's time for the Lakers to find a solid frontcourt sub for quality depth.  

Josh McRoberts

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 19: Josh McRoberts #32 of the Indiana Pacers in action against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on January 19, 2011 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or u

McRoberts is still very young (24 years old) and would probably be considered the most athletic player on the Lakers roster if signed. He can flat out fly, especially in transition, and would be a great complement to a pretty slow Laker front court.

Memphis almost gave up O.J. Mayo for the athletic 6'10" forward at the past trade deadline, but the deal ultimately fell through. 

I'm sure the Lakers front office can acquire McRoberts at a fair price without using too much of the mid-level. 

Kurt Thomas

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CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: Kurt Thomas #40 of the Chicago Bulls wipes sweat off of his face during a game against the New Jersey Nets at the United Center on April 13, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Nets 97-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Thomas may be old, but he still has a lot in the tank. He far exceeded his role last season with the Bulls and was surprisingly effective on the defensive end despite his age. Thomas is pretty much ineffective on the offensive end, but he still has the ability to move his feet on the defensive end (rebounding is solid as well). He's a gritty veteran that any team would love to have on their bench. 

We could also acquire Thomas on the cheap (vet minimum should do). 

Joel Przybilla

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Joel would be a perfect addition to this Laker frontcourt. He is a solid rebounder and a fantastic defender. The price may be heavy ($3 million to $4 million a year) for the Lakers to acquire Joel, but he would be a nice backup big to an injury prone Andrew Bynum.

The Lakers wouldn't have to start Odom if Bynum is out of the lineup, therefore keeping the bench in unison. 

Jason Collins

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ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 26: Jason Collins #34 of the Atlanta Hawks guards Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2011 at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE

The "Dwight Howard" stopper would be a nice addition to this roster. He has proven to be a solid post defender and can spare Andrew Bynum for a few minutes every night. Collins wouldn't be the ideal starter if Bynum were to go down, considering how long it takes for Andrew to heal.

I'm sure Collins will be expecting a nice pay raise for his performance this past season, but it shouldn't be over the top. I expect him to garner interest from several teams (Miami and the Celtics especially), at a yearly price of about $3 million to $3.5 million. 

D.J. Mbenga

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 22: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball over D.J. Mbenga #28 of the New Orleans Hornets in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs at the New Orleans Arena on April 22, 2011

D.J. could be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers next season if New Orleans decides not to re-sign the Congolese center. Mbenga proved to be a serviceable big for the Lakers when called upon and is already familiar with this roster, having been a part of their back-to-back championship runs. 

Mbenga seems clumsy but is a very active shot blocker and post defender. Practices were a lot more intense for Bynum with the Mbenga hounding him in the low block rather than Joe Smith and Theo Ratlif. The Lakers can probably sign Mbenga for the veteran's minimum if they decide to keep a tab on the 7-foot center during free agency.