Center

One of the most glaring holes is in the middle. Last year, we were witnesses to Roy Hibbert, who did not regain the defensive form he once had. Brandon Bass got the majority of the backup minutes, while promising sophomore Tarik Black rode the pine. Below are the Lakers' best options, in order of my preference.

Al Horford Hassan Whiteside Bismack Biyombo Festus Ezeli Joakim Noah

Horford first?! Yes, believe or not Horford is the best option this year. He provides a steady veteran presence on a very young team, is a strong defensive presence, and is an above average passer who could help initiate the offense, a la Andrew Bogut. While Horford won't blow anyone away with his numbers, his ability to play within the team's schemes, play good individual defense, and staying active out of the perimeter would be a huge boon for the team.

Whiteside is a close second, but loses points due to the perception of his attitude (despite how it may well be overblown). He poses a high risk, high reward situation, and still holds a lot of potential, both on the defensive end with his high block rate, and on the offensive side with his ability to play in the pick-and-roll, catching high lobs with his athletic abilities. I would be onboard with the signing, but would proceed with cautious optimism.

Biyombo had a great season in Toronto, closing with a great playoff run after Jonas Valanciunas was out due to an injured right ankle. The Lakers should have signed Biyombo last offseason, but have a second opportunity to sign another young piece who could grow into a role at a steady pace. "Big Business" provides a ton of energy, great rebounding, and is coming off a valuable playoff experience.

On the other hand, Ezeli finished with a weak showing in the NBA finals, but isn't nearly that bad. He's young enough to learn from his mistakes, has gotten better every year, and would aid Luke in bringing over the culture and defensive fire from Golden State. He would also have to adjust to a full time role, as he only averaged 16.7 minutes per game last year. However, he is a restricted free agent, and could cost more than what his true value is.

Noah is the last of my top 5, and is a true born leader. While he may not be the player he once was at 31 years of age, he brings a similar skill-set to the aforementioned Horford; a great passer who can make reads for the offense and brings the effort, work ethic, and knowledge of what it takes to be a winning team in the NBA.