The Los Angeles Lakers have arranged to work out big men Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The move comes as the Lakers have one roster spot open and with Anthony Davis still set to sit out a back-to-back later this season, the Lakers are looking to fill the center position.
Thompson has not yet played in the NBA this season after spending time with three different teams last year. In 2021-22, Thompson averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game with the Celtics, Pacers, and Bulls. Thompson is one of the best rebounders in the league, however, his rebound percentage dropped to its lowest mark since 2014-15 last year.
Bradley, on the other hand, has played in the NBA this year with the Bulls but only for 12 games. In that span, Bradley averaged 1.6 points and 0.9 rebounds. For his career, Bradley averages 4.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game across six seasons. Interestingly, Bradley was originally a draft pick of the Lakers, but he was part of the trade that landed the Lakers the rights to Thomas Bryant and Josh Hart on draft night in 2017.
Why the Lakers are looking for centers now
Although the Lakers are only signing a center for one upcoming game, they still need a center to play alongside Wenyen Gabriel, who has played well in recent contests. With Anthony Davis unlikely to play on the second night of a back-to-back against the Clippers on April 5, the Lakers need to sign someone to fill that position.
The move to work out Thompson and Bradley seems a little late, considering the Lakers lost their recent game against Houston when Davis sat out. However, better late than never, as they say.
Are Thompson and Bradley guaranteed to be signed?
It is not guaranteed that the Lakers will sign either Thompson or Bradley. Earlier this season, the Lakers worked out Meyers Leonard and DeMarcus Cousins but did not sign either player. Nonetheless, it is notable that the Lakers are actively searching for a center in preparation for the upcoming back-to-back game against the Clippers.
The Lakers are currently 30-19 and currently in sixth place in the Western Conference. With the playoffs just a few weeks away, the team is looking to bolster their roster and add some depth to the center position. Whether Thompson, Bradley, or someone else will get the spot, only time will tell.
