Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Lakers after a big man?

The Los Angeles Lakers clearly need a defensive presence in the front court to protect the rim and a couple of players, former Lakers’ center Andrew Bynum and Miami Heat free agent Greg Oden, have come up in conversation with the Lakers.

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Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders explains the Lakers will probably not take a risk on a troubled big man like Bynum or Oden.

"Not sure Oden is in the cards for the Lakers (or any other team) given the injury history, his inability to make any type of impact on last year’s Miami team, and the most recent arrest from earlier in the week. I know there were reports of the Clippers bringing Bynum in for a workout that surface last week, but I’m just not certain a coach or front office is going to deem it a necessary risk to bring his personality into a locker room. Certainly not one with a winning environment or title aspirations of any kind. I realize each of those guys haven’t reached 30, but in varying ways I’m not sure they are worth the headache that seems to come with and continue following each of them around in one way or another."

In 26 total games for the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers last season, Bynum 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 41.8% from the field and 75.5% from the free throw line. Oden played in 29 games for the Heat last season. He averaged 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 55.1% from the field and 56.5% from the free throw line.

Other veterans like Phoenix Suns’ free agent center Emeka Okafor and Milwaukee Bucks’ free agent big man Ekpe Udoh are available and both players could be good fits for the Lakers. Okafor missed the entire 2013-2014 season, but played in every game during 2012-2013 season. He put up 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 57.1% from the free throw line. Udoh averaged 3.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 block per game while shooting 39.9% from the field and 63.8% from the free throw line in 41 games for the Bucks.

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