What the 28-Year-Old Center Brings to the Lakers
The Lakers have signed former New Orleans Pelicans center Kylor Kelley. Kelley had also previously played for the Dallas Mavericks. Head coach Jason Kidd said about Kelley, “I thought about his activity and his talk. He was vocal. For someone to get here, his voice could be heard on the floor, and that’s a great sign for a newcomer.” Kelley averaged about four points and four rebounds per game last season. Although he didn't receive much playing time, he made a defensive impact on the floor. One area the Lakers have lacked is depth in their frontcourt. Kelley could provide that as a crucial defensive anchor coming off the bench.
He had two stints with the South Bay Lakers before joining the Pelicans, and overall played over 100 G League games. The Lakers have been focusing on defense, signing Marcus Smart and DeAndre Ayton. Looking to maintain this momentum, they have signed Kelley, a former member of the NBA G League All-Defensive Team. He really caught the attention as a rim protector and stopper during his college playing days at Oregon State from 2018 to 2020. The playing experience doesn't stop there, though, as he also gained international experience. Playing for teams in countries like Canada, Denmark, and England. It's a low-risk, high-reward move for the Lakers, which makes it a win for the team.
The deal is reportedly an Exhibit 10 deal. This type of deal gives the Lakers flexibility to sign him to a regular roster spot, a two-way contract, or even waive him and have his contract moved to their G League team, the South Bay Lakers. This allows the Lakers to evaluate him during the preseason and training camp to see what he brings to the table before the season starts. It is a good signing by the Lakers in an offseason where few moves have been made or are still pending, at least. The Lakers bring in someone who fills the hole they've been lacking to fill in defense and preserves the team's flexibility. If all goes well, Kelley has the potential to be a solid pickup for the Lakers. Someone who can be plugged into any big man lineup the team decides to go with.
