High-profile restricted free agents don’t typically switch NBA teams.
Festus Ezeli could be an exception this summer.
And the Los Angeles Lakers, apparently, are ready to pounce on this unique opportunity, according to the Sporting News’ Sean Deveney:
According to several league executives, that is likely to be what it takes to land Warriors restricted free agent center Festus Ezeli this summer. “Obviously there are health issues you’re worried about,” one general manager told Sporting News. “So I don’t think you’d want to go beyond three years. But he still has a lot of upside and he can get better in a bigger role.”
…
The Lakers, a source said, will have interest in Ezeli, seeing his size and rim-protecting defense as an ideal complement to forward Julius Randle. L.A., of course, just hired Warriors assistant Luke Walton to be its coach. Ezeli had the best months of his career in November and December, with Walton filling in while Kerr recovered from back surgery, and before Ezeli’s knee injury.
It’s not particularly hard to trace the dots here. Newly hired Lakers head coach Luke Walton has experience working with Ezeli. He also knows that Ezeli could become collateral damage should the Golden State Warriors decide to chase Kevin Durant. And he most definitely knows that Ezeli would be beef up Los Angeles’ interior defense while offering a developing post game, along with burgeoning devastation off pick-and-rolls.
Still, the Warriors will have the right to match any offer Ezeli receives. If they don’t pursue to Durant, it feels like he’ll stay put. And even if they do chase Durant, they could instead try to find a new home for Andrew Bogut. Ezeli is younger, has shown that, when healthy, he can be just as valuable on the defensive end and owns a cap hold that will be roughly half of Bogut’s until he signs his next deal. Keeping him, as opposed to Bogut, might allow the Warriors to sign Durant without having to part ways with another key player, such as Shaun Livingston or Andre Iguodala.
Point being: Stay tuned. Ezeli’s foray into restricted free agency should be hella interesting.
