The Lakers were in deep trouble as they started the 22-23 campaign with a lot of issues. The purple and gold brigade did not have the right mix, and injuries kept increasing in the camp. But with a good deal before the February trade deadline, the team looked like it solved their major concerns. But they could not hold onto a winning streak and were unable to climb up on the table. Apparently, the last thing they wanted was to miss their leader King James for several games.
In the midst of all the injuries and trouble with their balance, LeBron James had been carrying the team on his shoulders. But the injury to the four-time All-Star in the game against the Mavericks looked like the end of the Lakers in the current season. As a result, the team was able to pull themselves up even with Anthony Davis taking charge. And now, the Lakers are somehow hanging in the top ten at the moment. But looks like the Lakers’ front office is trying to find some hidden talent that can supposedly take the team past the miseries. But who is that? Keep reading to find out.
Lakers Bringing In LeBron James’ Old Teammate Tristan Thompson
Undoubtedly, the team will need LeBron James to come back as soon as possible. However, the Lakers might also be looking to bring in old teammate of LeBron James to increase depth in their roster. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley will be the new Lakers’ options. Tristan was part of the LeBron James-led 2016 NBA Champions Cleveland Cavaliers side. This former teammate of the King has been a free agent for a while after playing for a bunch of teams like the Kings, the Pacers, and the Bulls. He is supposed to be a better rebounder than Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Wenyen Gabriel. So is Tony Bradley, who has experience with the 76ers, the Jazz, and the Thunder. He was also part of North Carolina’s successful roster in the 2017 NCAA Championship.
It makes sense that the Lakers would leave no stone unturned to try to increase depth in the team. Buying Mo Bamba did not turn out to be successful. He missed several games with injury. Later on March 9, the team announced that Bamba had been ruled out for the rest of the regular season. However, with Tristan and Tony, it would help Anthony Davis a lot in the center. The current lineup is leaving AD alone at the center as a lone warrior. To increase strength in rebounding and center, the two new entries must be handy.
LA Need Winning Streak In The Remaining Games
At this point, the Lakers cannot afford to make any more mistakes in the remaining ten games. On Sunday, they won against the Orlando Magic. But in the previous match against the Mavericks, they lost a game where they were cruising to victory until the last second. With only three weeks remaining for the regular season to get over.
The squad needs a streak to make sure there is a place in the postseason. They are currently the 10th seed of the Western Conference. The Lakers should try to get to the top six for direct playoff qualification. They are sharing the same win-loss ratio with Minnesota Timberwolves. Currently, the two are battling for the 9th seed.
