Lawson Lovering Explains What He Will Bring To Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers recently made a change to their roster, signing center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract while waiving forward AK Okereke.

The move wasn’t a major one by any means, but it was necessary given the Lakers’ lack of center depth and struggles of Kevon Looney to begin the season. Lovering is not well-known as he has only played in two NBA games, so he explained to Lakers fans what he will bring to the team in an interview with Benjamin Royer of the Southern California News Group:

“I just think I can bring elite size, my feel for the game,” Lovering told SCNG of what he can add to the Lakers’ roster. “I think defensively and rebounding, I can show up and set hard screens, get guys open. …”

Lovering continued: “Being a dirty work guy, I’m a two-way guy – so not expected to have a huge role, which I never really thought I was going to – but just do dirty work and do the things that I’m asked to do every day. So just do what the coaches say and live with the rest, man. Just compete as hard as I can.”

The center role on the Lakers is a very simplified one as all you need to do is rebound, protect the paint, set good screens and roll hard to the basket. With playmakers like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the Lakers’ backcourt, they have the ability to get a center a bunch of easy buckets every game just on lobs.

At this stage of his career, Looney lacks the athleticism to be a lob threat. That has led to the Lakers going small when Walker Kessler is not in the game.

Lovering has yet to get an opportunity, which makes sense considering he just joined the team and needs to get up to speed on their schemes. When he does get a chance to play though, he seems to have the right mindset about what it will take for him to be successful and a positive contributor to the team.

Given the Lakers’ lack of center depth, it shouldn’t be long before Lovering gets his opportunity.

Lawson Lovering Lakers contract details

According to recent reports, Lovering’s two-way contract with the Lakers is for two seasons. That should give the organization some time to develop the 23-year-old center in hopes of him eventually becoming a rotation player for them.