The Los Angeles Lakers hope to boost its interior defense by nabbing 7'2" free-agent JaVale McGee to join fellow 7'2" player Roy Hibbert at center.

The Lakers, along with the Dallas Mavericks, are front runners in landing McGee. 

Hibbert is expected to start and adding McGee will help improve the Lakers' defense off the bench, observes Rant Sports.

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The 27-year old McGee is an awesome shot-blocker and intimidates opponents to make them change their shots.

In McGee's last full NBA season in 2012-13 when he showed action for the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 9.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

He has career averages of 1.8 blocks per 20 minutes and 5.5 rebounds per game.

On the downside, McGee is injury prone and missed much of the last two seasons. He only played 5 games in 2013-14 for the Nuggets, as he was hobbled by leg woes.

McGee also makes poor decisions on the floor, such as dribbling toward the opposing court after pulling down a defensive rebound.

The Lakers needs to improve at small forward and on defense. Adding McGee addresses one of their two most important needs.

However, McGee, who was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in March, can better crack the rotation for the Mavs, NBC Sports noted.

Other than Hibbert, the Lakers also have talented bigs like Julius Randle and 6'9" back up center Tarik Black.

The Lakers may also have to alter some agreements to make room for McGee.

They already have 12 guaranteed contracts plus the non-guaranteed deals of Black and Jabari Brown and the partially-guaranteed contract of Jonathan Holmes. With Robert Upshaw expected to sign, the Lakers already have 16 players.

The Mavs, who are still reeling from DeAndre Jordan's  backing out of his commitment to them, have lost starting center  Tyson Chandler and were only able to nab backups Samuel Dalembert and Zaza Pachulia. 

TagsLos Angeles Lakers, JaVale McGee, NBA transactions