Lakers Eyeing Jericho Sims? The Center Chase Runs Into a Roster Crunch

The Lakers gutted their center room this offseason, letting both Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton walk, and now they're stuck window-shopping for a backup 5 in a seller's market. Kevon Looney arrived, but at his age and with his mileage — he played just 21 games last season (2025-26), posting 2.8 points and 5.6 rebounds — nobody's penciling him in as the primary answer behind the starter.

Enter Jericho Sims. The Bucks big man has been floated as a Lakers target multiple times this week, first through reporting citing team and league sources and then echoed elsewhere. Milwaukee needs to cut down from 17 players to 15 by opening night, which could force a move on Sims, who's set to make a tidy $2.8 million after picking up a player option.

That contract is the whole appeal. It's small, it's movable, and LA has kicked the tires on Sims before — interest dates back to the 2025 trade deadline. On paper, he's a plug for the athleticism the Lakers lost when Hayes left.

Why He Fits (And Why He Doesn't)

Sims is a genuine leaper. He racked up 95 dunks in 67 games last season, which isn't far off the 122 Hayes threw down in 66 games. The Lakers never replaced that lob-catching, rim-running energy at center, so there's a clear stylistic hole Sims could fill.

The flaws are real, though. Sims doesn't protect the rim despite the bounce, and his defensive impact leaves a lot on the table. In other words, he's limited in a lot of the same ways Hayes was — you're buying vertical spacing, not a defensive anchor.

The Roster Math Problem

Here's the catch: the Lakers have their own roster crunch, sitting at 16 players with at least one more move to make. Trading for Sims right now would mean serious consolidation — think a three-for-one deal, or a multi-team construction. Teams simply don't have three open roster spots this late in the summer, which makes a clean swap unlikely.

There's also the Jonathan Kuminga chase still hanging over everything. If LA is spending trade capital, the wing need almost certainly gets addressed before a backup center does. Sims is a nice-to-have, not a priority.

The realistic path isn't a blockbuster — it's patience. If Milwaukee's roster crunch spits Sims out via waiver or he's buried on the bench come opening night, that's when LA can pounce without gutting its own depth.

The Fantasy Fallout

Let's be clear about Sims' fantasy value: it's marginal. He posted 5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 67 games last season (2025-26), good for just 14.7 FPTS/G and our rank of #299 overall (#50 among centers). His last-5-game surge of +17.6 fantasy points over his season average is intriguing, but it was built on garbage-time and spot minutes — not a role you can trust week to week.

The bigger fantasy question is what happens to the Lakers' backup center touches. Looney (14.2 FPTS/G last season, rank #307) isn't a lock to hold that job, and any incoming big — Sims or otherwise — walks into an unsettled situation. That's worth monitoring for streamers in deep leagues.

For now, the verdict on Sims is simple: watch, don't act. He's a name to file away if he gets released or lands somewhere with real minutes. In standard formats, there's nothing to do here. If you're in a 16-team or two-center league, keep him on your radar for the moment his path to run opens up — but don't burn a roster spot on speculation.