November 26 Beijing Time - In the new season's matches, Lakers' inside player D.J. Mbenga once took advantage of Gasol and Bynum's absence to deliver a very good performance. Recently, he revealed in an interview with Belgian media that the Houston Rockets had significant interest in him.
Mbenga stands at 2.13 meters with strong athletic ability. He is the type of inside player who is better at defense than offense, showing quite excellent rebounding and blocking skills. This Belgian player delivered impressive performances in two starting games. In the game against the Grizzlies, he scored 5 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots. In the match against the Hornets, he even achieved a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, also delivering 4 blocks, which was quite astonishing.
In fact, perhaps what was even more shocking was a conversation he had this week. In an interview with Belgian media, Mbenga clearly stated that his future with the Lakers might have already reached its end. He hopes to join another team that truly needs him, such as the Rockets, where Morey has shown considerable interest in him.
Mbenga’s original words were: "After I achieved a double-double in the game against the Hornets at the beginning of the month, Kobe specially invited me for dinner. Kobe said he was particularly happy for me. I have always known what I can do, despite being troubled by abdominal muscle issues during that period. All I want is to be able to play. Sometimes, renowned coaches like Phil Jackson will never understand how much players like me crave playing time. When Gasol got injured, Jackson asked me if I could play, and I was of course more than willing. This year is my contract year, so I hope to showcase my abilities in the coming weeks or months. This is the most critical time in my career; it will be a new beginning. Some teams, like the Rockets, have been eyeing me for a long time."
Mbenga’s remarks may not pose any issue for the Lakers. The Lakers have a rich reserve of inside players, with the three mainstays Gasol, Bynum, and Odom taking up a lot of playing time. The young Josh Powell also has to compete with Mbenga for limited substitute opportunities.
Therefore, despite his excellent performances in those two games, it did not fundamentally improve his rotation status within the team. After Gasol and Bynum recovered from their injuries and returned to the lineup, Mbenga’s playing time quickly decreased. In the subsequent 6 games, Mbenga only had one game where his playing time reached double digits (11 minutes), while in the other 5 games, his playing time was minimal, with one game where he sat on the bench the entire time.
Without opportunities to perform, his statistics became even harder to satisfy. In these 6 games, he only contributed a total of 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, which was still less than his contribution in a single game against the Hornets. Mbenga is almost 30 years old this year, and after spending 5 seasons in the league, he indeed needs to seriously consider his livelihood.
The Rockets currently have an objective need for athletic and tall inside players. Although Haynes works hard and Anderson's shooting level is high, the former lacks height, and the latter lacks sufficient physical strength, leading to the Rockets’ rebounding and interior defense often becoming opponents' breakthrough points in crucial moments. Mbenga's 2.13-meter height can well address the Rockets’ inside height problem, and his strong body eliminates concerns about Anderson's inability to adapt to NBA-level physicality. Of course, what Morey values even more might be Mbenga's fighting spirit. The Rockets have always placed greater emphasis on players' game attitudes.
Mbenga’s annual salary this year is merely $960,000, which is quite cheap. If the Rockets can really acquire this tall inside substitute from the Lakers, it would be a very cost-effective deal.