Lakers HC JJ Redick should look to G League to fulfill need at center

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has repeatedly stated that his team's most glaring need is adding a quality center. The team ran with Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes last season, but neither produced the quality needed to grow the Lakers into a true contender.

Centers Christian Koloko and Colin Castleton have inked two-way deals for the upcoming season. Although, they are widely expected to spend most of their time in the G League with the South Bay Lakers. 

However, one name currently signed to a training camp deal could solve the Lakers' issue at the center position immediately or throughout the season. 

Kylor Kelley. 

The 27-year-old is coming off quite the season with the Maine Celtics in the G League, which resulted in the Lakers pouncing to secure his services this summer. 

Standing at 7-foot, Kelley averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 29 G League games for the Celtics. 

While those numbers don't scream an NBA rotation player, his league-leading 83 blocks throughout the campaign do. Kelley's 2.9 blocks per game also led the G League, as he was named to the All-Defensive Team. 

The Maine center shot 69 percent from the field, resulting in a 136.6 offensive rating on the court — both were the highest in the G League. His overall player efficiency rating of 22.6 was the eighth highest.

In a win over the Motor City Cruise in October 2023, Kelley erupted for 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, his standout performance of the season. 

On seven occasions, the towering center recorded five-plus blocks in a single game — headlined by an eight-block outing against the Delaware Blue Coats. Kelley had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game, nearly securing a triple-double with blocks. 

Of course, performing to that level in the G League and doing it in the NBA are entirely different scenarios. Still, Redick has strongly emphasized utilizing South Bay and the G League this season. Seeing the affiliate team as an "extension" of the NBA team.

"We should be the model for integration between the NBA team and the G League team. I look at Zach as an extension of my staff. I look at that team as an extension of our team. I would expect us to use the G League for very specific reasons," said Redick on a recent episode of "The Lowe Post" podcast.

Since the 2020 championship run with Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee, the Lakers have experimented with various centers, but none have proved adequate. 

The team already has a star-level big in Anthony Davis, but they've failed to find a suitable pairing or a quality backup for some years. 

Redick shared his thoughts on the situation back in July during an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio.

“You certainly have to look at what I think is actually a very good roster, a very balanced roster. We’d love to, we tried, but we’d love to, at some point, get another five man, a big bruising five man," said Redick. 

"You look at the Western Conference right now, whether it’s Denver, Minnesota, OKC with what they added, certainly Memphis, they’re going to be back in the hunt, they added Zach Edey. In certain matchups in the playoffs, you’re going to need a lot of size.”

Even though Kelley is currently fighting for an NBA roster spot, it's increasingly likely that he will sign a deal with South Bay in the G League for the upcoming season. 

On countless occasions, high performers commonly play their way into NBA opportunities through two-way deals early in the season or 10-day contracts in the latter stages. 

Plus, with Redick and the Lakers' front office keen to utilize their G League affiliate, Kelley won't be too far away from an important onlooker.