Former Phoenix Suns Center’s Signing Will Prove to Be a Mistake for Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Will Regret Signing Former Phoenix Suns Center. This move isn’t going to turn out as they expect.

The NBA’s trade deadline was one of the most chaotic in recent memory, involving more than just Luka Doncic and De’Aaron Fox changing teams. A lesser-known but equally significant aspect of the final days was the reshuffling of centers by several teams, including the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix decided to part ways with Jusuf Nurkic, giving up a first-round pick in the process, and added the athletic but limited Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets. In the same trades, Charlotte also moved their starting big man, Mark Williams, to the Los Angeles Lakers, but that deal was later rescinded. However, we haven’t heard the last of this transaction.

This situation opened the door for a former Suns lottery pick to make his way to L.A.

That player is Alex Len, selected fifth overall by Phoenix in 2013. Despite his high draft position, Len never lived up to expectations during his five years in Phoenix. Since then, he’s been bouncing around the league as a backup center, and while he hasn’t become a star, it’s worth acknowledging his longevity in the NBA, which is impressive for the Ukrainian player.

When the Williams trade was reversed, the Lakers found themselves without a legitimate big man on their roster. As a result, they waived Christian Wood to make space for Len. Len, a free agent who had played for the Sacramento Kings this season, was brought in to fill the gap.

However, Wednesday night’s loss to the Utah Jazz served as a stark reminder of why Len has struggled to become anything more than an average backup throughout his career. The Lakers fell to the Jazz, a team with just 12 wins on the season, in a 131-119 defeat, with Len playing 22 minutes.

The loss certainly wasn’t solely on Len, but his role on this roster highlights why a similar outcome would have occurred had he stayed with Phoenix. Len shares several traits with the recently traded Nurkic, and unfortunately, not the good kind. When placed on the right team, he can serve as a solid inside presence, helping to score easy baskets alongside star players. This was what Nurkic provided when playing under Frank Vogel with the Suns. When defensive schemes were designed to hide his weaknesses, Nurkic had some productive games for Phoenix. However, in his current situation under head coach Mike Budenholzer, who demands more offensively and hasn’t adjusted defensively, Nurkic has struggled.

Len is headed for a similar fate in Los Angeles. While both LeBron James and Luka Doncic are exceptional talents, neither is known for elite defense night after night. The 131 points conceded to a team with 40 losses this season demonstrates this reality, with Len often left exposed on multiple defensive plays.

While the Lakers had no choice but to make this move—just as the Suns had to bring in Richards—it emphasizes the negative impacts of being in the second apron of the salary cap. Fortunately for the Suns, the Lakers will learn this lesson the hard way, not them.