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The Los Angeles Lakers' 2026-27 NBA season has been marked by a glaring lack of size and struggles on the glass. Veteran addition Kevon Looney, signed to a minimum deal over the summer, has not lived up to expectations, prompting the team to bring in seven-footer Lawson Lovering. However, that experiment appears to have been short-lived.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers waived the 23-year-old center on Tuesday. Lovering saw action in only two games, averaging a mere 1.5 minutes per contest, with his time limited to garbage-time situations.
Despite boasting the league's most potent offense, led by Luka Doncic and company at 122.1 points per game, the Lakers have been woeful on the boards, ranking second-worst in the NBA with 40.3 rebounds per game. General manager Rob Pelinka is expected to continue searching for solutions in the frontcourt behind star center Walker Kessler, who has performed admirably this season.
Key Analysis
The decision to waive Lovering underscores the Lakers' ongoing frontcourt challenges. Looney, a three-time NBA champion, has appeared in just five games, logging only 5.8 minutes per game when he does play. Fortunately, veteran forward Jarred Vanderbilt has re-entered the rotation, injecting energy and rebounding off the bench. Vanderbilt's numbers aren't eye-popping, but he has contributed 3.9 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will aim to extend their winning streak to seven games on Wednesday when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. The road trip concludes on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.