Los Angeles Lakers Working Out Former NBA Champion This Week
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Having an open roster spot and currently in the midst of fighting for a spot in the Western Conference playoff picture with LeBron James being injured, the Los Angeles Lakers are possibly looking to add depth behind Anthony Davis in their frontcourt.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Lakers are bringing in former 2016 NBA champion Tristan Thompson, a former teammate of James' with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and former 2017 first-round pick Tony Bradley for workouts this upcoming week.
Shams Charania: "The Los Angeles Lakers are working out free agent centers Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley this week, sources tell me and @jovanbuha. Thompson, an 11-year NBA veteran, was a key member of the 2016 championship Cavaliers team alongside LeBron James."
After spending time with the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls last season, Thompson did not sign a new contract this past offseason and has remained an unrestricted free agent.
A key part of the Cavaliers championship team in 2016, Thompson has always been known to be a high-level rebounding threat on both ends of the court, as he has averaged 8.4 rebounds per game over the course of his career.
Bradley spent the last two years with the Bulls before being waived by the team on February 21 this season. In Chicago, he averaged 2.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in about 8.7 minutes per game.
A member of North Carolina's 2017 NCAA championship roster, Tony Bradley has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder in addition to spending time in Chicago.
Adding more depth in their frontcourt is an obvious need the Lakers have, especially with trade deadline acquisition Mo Bamba being on the sideline with a high left ankle sprain. The Lakers announced on March 9 that Bamba would miss the remainder of the regular season.
Behind Davis in their frontcourt, the Lakers have split time between Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura, but none of them are big-time rebounding threats, nor true centers that can alleviate pressure off of Davis.
Both Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley are experienced centers who could come in and immediately help make an impact off-the-bench as rebounding threats, which is why the Lakers are bringing them in this upcoming week for workouts.
Following their victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night, the Lakers are now 35-37 on the season, currently tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz for the 9-seed and the 10-seed in the Western Conference standings.
Los Angeles will play their next game on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns.
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