Austin Reaves’ free-throw rate isn’t some new phenomenon
4 HRS AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Austin Reaves was great at drawing free throws long Expand
4 HRS AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
Austin Reaves was great at drawing free throws long before this recent stretch for the Lakers. Lakers guard Austin Reaves is having the best stretch of his career, setting a career-high in points vs the Orlando Magic and a career-high in assists vs. the Phoenix Suns in successive games. In those two games, he’s also averaged over 15 free-throw attempts per game, roughly 13 free-throw attempts per game over his last four games, and a free-throw rate (.545) that is among the highest for any player since the All-Star break.
His ability to draw free throws has become a topic of national discussion (and of course, that has brought the “Laker conspiracy” contingent out of the woodwork as well). However, when you dig deeper into Reaves’ playing history, his free-throw rate and craft to draw fouls aren’t some new phenomenon for those who have actually been paying attention.
I explained more in the following video:
Using the full context and Collapse
Lakers vs. Thunder Preview and Game Thread: Play-in sneak peek?
21 HRS AGO - Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
After two straight wins, the Lakers will look to Expand
21 HRS AGO - Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
After two straight wins, the Lakers will look to keep this train to the play-in going with a win against a team trying to do the same: The Oklahoma City Thunder. After an upsetting, buzzer-beater loss suffered at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers have righted the ship with two straight wins against the Magic and Suns.
Sadly, those two wins haven’t fully cleaned out the bad taste in the mouths of Lakers fans, as that game against the Mavericks was bigger than just being another loss. That’s due to the ninth-seeded Mavs being one of the teams jostling with the 10th-seeded Lakers for a spot in the play-in tournament.
If the Lakers really want to put that brutal loss in the rear-view mirror, they’ll have a shot at redemption in the form of a game vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. Heading into Thursday’s night of NBA action, the Thunder sat in the 8th seed in the Western Conference with the Lakers only Collapse
Lakers say LeBron James is progressing, but still no official timeline for return
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James was re-evaluated by the Lakers Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James was re-evaluated by the Lakers on Thursday and while the details remain vague, the consensus was good news as LeBron is still progressing forward. For the first time since being diagnosed with a foot tendon injury in early March, LeBron James was evaluated by the Lakers on Thursday. While the details were pretty vague, it was ultimately good news for the Lakers and LeBron.
There is no updated timeline for LeBron or his return, but he is still improving on what the Lakers call a “gradual basketball movement progression.”
LeBron James continues his on-court activity and is on a "gradual basketball movement progression," the Lakers said on Thursday. There is no specific timeline for his return to game action, according to the team.— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 23, 2023
Now, this may be some semantics, but LeBron himself pushed back against the notion that he was re-evaluated on Thursday and that there was any Collapse
The Lakers are still being linked to Kyrie Irving in NBA rumors
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Despite everything from the Lakers themselves Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Despite everything from the Lakers themselves indicating the contrary, the team is still being linked to Kyrie Irving as a potential destination this offseason. Perhaps in spite of themselves, the Lakers have put together a team with depth and talent that has helped at least keep them in the conversation for the play-in race through LeBron James’ injury. Days after trying to go all-in on Kyrie Irving, the Lakers pulled off a series of trades that brought in a host of players and reshaped the team.
While the trades were a net positive for the Lakers and reports have indicated their desire to run it back — and specifically not pursue Irving — the links to Kyrie haven’t stopped. In some senses, it’s fair to assume the Lakers would be interested considering their desire for a third star between LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the number of times they’ve pursued Irving.
In his latest substack letter, longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein Collapse
Darvin Ham says Lakers have ‘no imminent plans’ to sign Tristan Thompson or Tony Bradley
2 DAYS AGO - Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
After hosting them for a workout this week, the Lakers Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
After hosting them for a workout this week, the Lakers don’t seem set on signing either of Tristan Thompson or Tony Bradley. After hosting another pair of big men for workouts in Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley this week, the Lakers seem to still be holding serve on using their final roster spot. After practice on Tuesday, head coach Darvin Ham confirmed the team hosted Thompson and Bradley for a workout, but said a signing of neither is imminent.
Darvin Ham confirms that Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley worked out for the Lakers yesterday, but clarified that “nothing is imminent.” He said the Lakers were doing their “due diligence” on evaluating big man options.— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 21, 2023
It’s not a particularly surprising development given how little the two have played this season. Thompson hasn’t suited up and Bradley has only played a small handful of games. No amount of PR spin about how good they may have looked in Collapse
Yes and No: 2 things to like (and 2 to not) about the Lakers this week
3 DAYS AGO - From Anthony Davis’ decline in usage to Austin Reaves’ penchant for earning trips to the foul Expand
3 DAYS AGO - From Anthony Davis’ decline in usage to Austin Reaves’ penchant for earning trips to the foul line, there’s a lot to discuss about the last week of Lakers basketball. The Lakers have come down some from the highs of their post-trade deadline acquisitions and hit a bit of a rough patch of late, going 6-4 over their last 10 games while losing a couple of disappointing matchups with the Rockets and the Mavericks in the last week.
But even with some of those recent struggles, the Lakers are 10-6 since Feb. 11, and have flashed a renewed sense of belief in themselves — a belief that has been (mostly) mirrored by fans. With that, and in an homage to Zach Lowe (if you’re going to steal, do it from the best!), let’s take a look at a few things I’ve liked and disliked in my inaugural edition of Darius Soriano’s Lakers yeses and no’s...
Anthony Davis’ Touches Going Down
AD has come under some criticism in the last week, first for missing the Rockets game on the second night of a back-to-back Collapse
Western Conference Standings Watch: A race no one wants to win
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
While the Lakers are slipping up in important Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
While the Lakers are slipping up in important games, they aren’t alone as the Western Conference play-in race is a mess of teams who don’t want to win. The Lakers have done themselves no favors in the last five days or so, losing games to bottom-of-the-league Houston and play-in rivals Dallas. Both losses were particularly frustrating for differing reasons and certainly made it feel like things were coming crashing down on the Lakers this season.
The important context to note in all of this is that everyone in the play-in race is experiencing these types of losses. Houston also beat the Pelicans after the Lakers, OKC lost to the Raptors and Golden State lost to the Hawks as part of a 3-game losing streak.
While it can certainly feel like opportunities missed — and they are — the end result after all of that is the Lakers are still 10th in the play-in and 1.5 games away from Dallas in sixth. Not much has changed in that Collapse
Report: Anthony Davis will play in final Lakers back-to-back of season
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers medical staff gave Anthony Davis a Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers medical staff gave Anthony Davis a choice of which of the Lakers’ final two back-to-backs he wanted to play in both games of, and he chose their final one vs. the Jazz and Clippers. When Anthony Davis sat out against the Houston Rockets on the second night of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most recent back-to-back last week, he (and the team) received quite a bit of criticism locally, and even nationally. Few cared that head coach Darvin Ham described Davis’ foot as “an active injury” that the team is still treating, or about reports that the team had always planned to continue sitting Davis on the second night of back-to-backs regardless of how many minutes he played on night one. The team lost a game they needed to win against a very beatable team, and fans were (justifiably) upset about it and looking for someone to blame.
However, it also appears that aforementioned plan from the team’s medical staff may not be set in Collapse
Behind Austin Reaves’ career high, Lakers bounce back and beat the Magic
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Spearheaded by Austin Reaves and the bench, Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Spearheaded by Austin Reaves and the bench, L.A. gets back in the win column. After a pair of disappointing losses, the Lakers found themselves back in the win column beating the Orlando Magic 111-105 on Sunday night.
With the Lakers needing a win to wash out the bad taste left in their mouths from their letdown against Dallas, it was the bench players who stepped up and helped secure the victory.
Austin Reaves, who arguably had his best game of his young career, continues to grow up before our very eyes. No longer just a “role player” who “makes the right play,” Reaves is straight up producing when given the opportunity. As the nominal lead ball-hander while D’Angelo Russell sat, and even when he was on the floor, Reaves was sensational, ending the night with 35 points, six assists and was a team-high +25.
Dennis Schröder also continues to adjust well as part of the second unit as he chipped in 12 points and five assists off Collapse
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Suns coach Monty Williams fined $20k for meltdown over Austin Reaves free throws
5 HRS AGO - Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers finally ended their losing Expand
5 HRS AGO - Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers finally ended their losing streak to the Suns by more than doubling them up at the free throw line led by Austin Reaves, prompting a complaint-fest from Monty Williams, Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Update: Less than 48 hours after these comments, the NBA announced that Suns head coach Monty Williams had been fined $20,000 for public criticism of officiating.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/tHhrlJEdHt— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 24, 2023
Original story follows.
For the first time in almost two years, the Lakers finally beat the Suns in a basketball game. It was a span of 11 games that included the postseason, regular season and even the preseason. No matter the stakes, Phoenix bested the purple and gold at every turn until Wednesday’s effort.
The win was possible because for a handful of reasons from balanced scoring to a strong second half from Anthony Davis. Nothing was more Collapse
Western Conference Standings Watch: Big weekend for Lakers
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
With another big match-up and some pivotal Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
With another big match-up and some pivotal games around the league, the Lakers could come out of the weekend in a really good position in the Western Conference playoff race. After Thursday’s win for the Lakers over the Suns, the fourth seed in the conference (Phoenix) and the 12th seed (Pelicans) are separated by three losses. It’s really impossible to overstate how absurd this playoff race has been and will be in the final weeks of the season.
Every game will be a big one for the Lakers moving forward, but a chance to win the season series and tiebreaker against the Thunder on Friday makes that game enormous as is. With a number of other big games across the conference, including a West Coast road trip by the Sixers that could be a big benefit for the Lakers, this weekend could shake up lots of things.
DraftKings odds
With the Lakers sitting at 36-37 and firmly in the middle of the play-in race, it’s anybody’s guess as to whether Collapse
Lakers roll past the Suns behind a balanced attack
1 DAY AGO - Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Led by another tremendous Austin Reaves’ performance Expand
1 DAY AGO - Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Led by another tremendous Austin Reaves’ performance and an active Anthony Davis, the Lakers kick off their final stretch on the right foot. With just ten games left in the regular season heading into Wednesday night, the Lakers started off their final stretch on the right foot, taking care of the Phoenix Suns 122-111.
The Lakers are now 36-37, and back in play-in positioning in a Western Conference race that’s as tight as ever.
Prior to the game, Darvin Ham hinted he had “something up his sleeve” regarding the starting lineup. That something was the insertion of Austin Reaves in place of the slumping Malik Beasley.
Reaves got the nod after his career-high 35-point performance against the Orlando Magic, and his impact was felt immediately once again. He led all Lakers with ten points in the opening quarter and ended the night with 25 points and a career-high 11 assists.
We didn’t get a very aggressive Anthony Davis to start the game, but Collapse
Darvin Ham won’t confirm if Anthony Davis will play in Lakers final back-to-back or not
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers are set to have a very important Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers are set to have a very important back-to-back late in the season, but Darvin Ham won’t confirm the reports that Anthony Davis will take part in it. Despite vehement calls to the contrary, the Lakers have remained ardent in their plan to sit Anthony Davis on the second night of back-to-backs. In recent weeks, it has led to him sitting in a critical game against the Thunder that the team won, but also in a preventable loss to the Rockets.
It’s very much been a point of contention and raised some concerns about the team would handle the final back-to-back of the season. Coming in the final week of the season and against two teams in direct competition for the play-in spots in the Clippers and Jazz, having Davis available feels imperative.
To that point, reports surfaced recently from Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report — someone generally well-connected with Davis and Klutch — that AD may in fact play in the back-to-back. On Collapse
Reacts: Who is the most important Lakers free agent?
2 DAYS AGO - Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers will have a number of decisions to make with their Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers will have a number of decisions to make with their own free agents this summer. Who should they prioritize? Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Los Angeles Lakers fans and fans across the country.Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Only a few months ago, the Lakers’ outlook for free agency was fairly simple. With Russell Westbrook coming off the books, the plan was pretty simple in letting him leave and using the cap space created to try to fill out the roster.
Fast forward to present day and a series of trades for players set for either restricted or unrestricted free agency. D’Angelo Russell is the name likely most discussed in regards to his future with the franchise, but Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura each will be restricted free agents. On top of that, contributors like Dennis Schröder and Troy Brown Jr. are on veteran’s Collapse
Anthony Davis says he and LeBron James wish they got the same whistle as Austin Reaves
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
The Lakers are not only watching Austin Reaves Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
The Lakers are not only watching Austin Reaves blossom this season, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are growing envious of him. Time and time again in recent years, Lakers fans have watched a young guard blossom from afterthought to impactful role player. From Alex Caruso to Talen Horton-Tucker (kind of!) to now Austin Reaves, the franchise keeps churning out guards regardless of whether they’re second round picks or even drafted at all.
Reaves had already put together a strong season before he broke out in a big way on Sunday with his career-high 35 points. It was a performance strong enough that it actually earned him a Western Conference Player of the Week nomination.
A number of things have gone into his strong season. The ball has been in his hands more, particularly since Russell Westbrook was traded and LeBron James went down with injury and his 3-point shot has noticeably improved. But, perhaps the biggest thing that has gone more Collapse
Discussion Thread for Non Lakers Games:Week of March 20th-March 26th
4 DAYS AGO - Lillard vs SGA. Present and the Future PGs | Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Only a few weeks Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Lillard vs SGA. Present and the Future PGs | Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Only a few weeks remain till the end of the season. Who will make the push to the post season? Welcome to week 23 of the NBA season. Lakers are currently 35-37 and the 10th seed in the western conference after their win versus the Magic. The Lakers are 1.5 games out of the 6th seed but there are several games needed and tiebreakers to leapfrog up to the 6th seed. Alex Regula previewed the last 10 games of the season. You can find that here.
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2023/3/20/23647390/previewing-lakers-final-10-games-of-regular-season-anthony-davis-lebron-james-western-conference-nba
That being said let’s look at the Non Lakers games in the week before the trade deadline.
March 20th
Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 PM ET
Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 PM ET
Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks at 7:30 PM ET
Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets at 8:00 PM Collapse
Previewing the Lakers’ final 10 games of the regular season
4 DAYS AGO - Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Head-to-heads, tiebreakers and everything else swirling Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Head-to-heads, tiebreakers and everything else swirling around the team's final stretch. The 2-10 start, the injuries, the roster makeover, it’s all led to this. The Los Angeles Lakers have reached the final switchback of their turbulent season.
While the finish line is now in clear view with only 10 games left, there still lies a mountain of uncertainty of what will actually await them at the culmination. At 35-37, the Lakers remain in a crowded and heated battle for one of the final play-in spots within the Western Conference’s tight playoff picture.
Although others can still climb or drop on a moment’s notice, the squads the Lakers will be in most direct competition with for one of those last spots include: the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz. All of whom are separated by just two or less games in the loss column.
As of this article, the Lakers are currently clinging Collapse
Rob Pelinka reportedly wanted Malik Beasley on Lakers ‘for a while,’ likely to keep him next season
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers landed Malik Beasley at the trade Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers landed Malik Beasley at the trade deadline after reportedly eyeing him for many seasons and now look set to keep him around moving forward. For most of LeBron James’ career, it hasn’t exactly been rocket science that he’s found success when surrounded by shooting. Whether in Miami or either stint in Cleveland, putting shooting and space around LeBron and it was effectively a guaranteed trip to the Finals for years.
The Lakers decided to throw most of that logic out of the window for the majority of LeBron’s tenure and have not given him much shooting during his time in Los Angeles. One of the few times they did, the 2019-20 season, the Lakers won an NBA title.
After writing that off as a fluke and trading that shooting for a point guard known for being a historically bad one, the Lakers finally returned to that formula at the trade deadline. That included trading for Malik Beasley, certainly the most prolific and Collapse
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Anthony Davis wants to help Lakers raise banner No. 18, put his own jersey in rafters
6 HRS AGO - Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Anthony Davis has his legacy on his mind, Expand
6 HRS AGO - Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Anthony Davis has his legacy on his mind, and wants to help the Lakers add to their own as a franchise, too. The Lakers currently only have the ninth-best odds to win the 2023 NBA championship, according to our friends over at DraftKings, but ever since the trade deadline, it’s been clear that Anthony Davis and the rest of the team both believe and hope their chances are a bit better than that.
In an exclusive interview with Dave McMenamin of ESPN, not only did Davis tell the veteran insider that he is confident in the team’s ability to win it all this year — “I like our chance against anybody to be honest,” Davis said — he made it clear that the historical significance of raising another banner isn’t lost on him.
While telling McMenamin about his full back tattoo depicting his entire basketball life starting from his backyard hoop to now, Davis said that helping the Lakers pass Boston in total championships drives him, and is Collapse
Report: LeBron James targeting final three games of season to return from injury for Lakers
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
As things continue to positively progress in his Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
As things continue to positively progress in his rehab, LeBron James is eyeing a return in the final trio of games this season for the Lakers. LeBron James was officially re-evaluated by the Lakers on Thursday and while the general takeaway was pretty vague without a return date or timeline, the general feeling around the news was an optimistic one. Even before the Lakers announced that LeBron had moved to more on-court activity and “gradual basketball movement progression” — whatever that is — the reports around him on the day were one of hopefulness for a return.
On SportsCenter on Thursday morning, Dave McMenamin reported that LeBron was aiming to return sometime in the final three games of the season, ideally against the Clippers on April 5.
Dave McMenamin: “A league source familiar with LeBron James’ thinking told me that he believes LeBron will push [to play] over the final 3 games the Lakers play in Los Angeles.” Collapse
Report: Lakers have ‘strong’ interest in re-signing D’Angelo Russell
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
After returning to Los Angeles and flourishing, the Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
After returning to Los Angeles and flourishing, the Lakers are reportedly ready to make D’Angelo Russell part of the future. It’s hard to imagine, given how abruptly and messy the separation was, that the Lakers are in a space in which offering a long-term contract to D’Angelo Russell appears to be the preferred outcome for all parties involved.
Only a handful of years ago, Russell was shipped out to Brooklyn and kicked on his way out the door. But a new coaching staff, a new front office figurehead and an improved, more mature Russell all equals out to a future between the former No. 2 overall pick and the franchise that drafted him so many years ago.
After hitting the ground running back in purple and gold, both the Lakers and Russell have expressed sentiment in making the partnership between the two more long-term. The latest to report that was Jovan Buha of The Athletic on Michael Scotto’s HoopsHype podcast.
Scotto: Woj touched on Collapse
Lakers vs. Suns Preview and Game Thread: 10 games left
2 DAYS AGO - Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers will have to rely on their depth and of Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers will have to rely on their depth and of course, Anthony Davis’ dominance to will them to victory in this one It may have taken an unexpected all-time great performance from Austin Reaves, but the Lakers managed to successfully escape and win a crucial one against the Orlando Magic last Sunday. It wasn’t all that pretty, but as the sentiment has been for the past three weeks, the purple and gold will take any game we can get at this point. Because right now, it’s looking like the Lakers’ play-in faith will likely be determined until the last few games of the season.
The Lakers have exactly 10 games left on their schedule, and because of two avoidable losses to the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks last week, they’re currently not even in the play-in picture in the wild Western Conference standings. They carelessly let their margin of error slip away and because of that, games like Wednesday’s against the Phoenix Suns, are way Collapse
Free agent market for Austin Reaves expected to give him ‘$50 million, at least’
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
As he continues to play bigger and bigger Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
As he continues to play bigger and bigger roles for the Lakers, Austin Reaves’ payday this summer is increasing as well with his next deal likely to be upwards of $50 million. The Lakers have found themselves in a familiar position in many regards when it comes to Austin Reaves. In one regard, he’s joined a growing list of wins for the scouting department this season as he continues to blossom.
At the same time, he’s also the latest to put the Lakers in a bind financially when it comes to his impending free agency. While it’s important to note that Reaves is a restricted free agent and it’ll be entirely the Lakers decision if he doesn’t return, his next contract could be quite the commitment.
It’s the catch-22 of Reaves having success this season is that it’s only making him more expensive to keep around. Recently appearing on FanDuel TV, Shams Charania of The Athletic and former NBA player/recruiter Chandler Parsons discussed just Collapse
Report: Tristan Thompson was in ‘good shape’ at Lakers workout, Tony Bradley was also there
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers worked out Tristan Thompson and Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers worked out Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley on Monday as they look for an emergency backup center. Late last night, we got word that the Los Angeles Lakers would be working out centers Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley this week as they continue to search the market for an emergency backup big in the wake of Mo Bamba’s injury.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania while appearing on Bally Sports’ “The Rally,” those workouts have already taken place. The details were scant, but here is what he had to say:
“I’m told the Lakers worked out both Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley. I’m told Thompson was in good shape. Tony Bradley, he’s a guy that played this year for the Bulls, there’s a little more recency with his level of play. Tristan Thompson has yet to play this year... He finished (last) year with the Bulls, actually was a teammate of Tony Bradley’s, supplanted him in the rotation last season in the rotation when the Collapse
LeBron James reportedly ‘might not be fully healthy’ when (and if) he returns this season
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers may welcome LeBron James back this Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers may welcome LeBron James back this season but he may not be 100% healthy when — and if — he does return this year. While it sounds more and more like LeBron James will be back this season — including straight from Darvin Ham himself on Sunday — there is no guarantee as to how healthy he’ll be when he does return.
Similar to the 2020-21 season, LeBron returning does not mean he is 100% healthy but also doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be helpful. When LeBron returned from his high ankle sprain in that season, he very clearly wasn’t himself and even had to take some extra time off after initially returning to further heal.
Ultimately, he reached a point where he was healthy enough to be a productive player but clearly was not all the way back to original LeBron. And that could be the level of LeBron the Lakers could be getting this season if he does return.
According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report on his podcast with longtime Collapse
Report: Lakers to work out Tristan Thompson, Tony Bradley this week
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Still with an open roster spot, Expand
4 DAYS AGO - Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Still with an open roster spot, the Lakers are reportedly set to work out Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley as potential back-up centers. In a move that certainly feels like it came a week or two too late, the Lakers are set to workout a pair of big men this week, according to Shams Charania The Athletic. The Lakers have one roster spot open and, with Anthony Davis still set to sit out a back-to-back later this season, a center seems the various obvious choice to sign.
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.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2023
Thompson has not played in the NBA this season after spending time across three teams last year. With the Celtics, Pacers and Bulls in 2021-22, Thompson Collapse
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