Los Angeles Lakers: Free agents to replace Dwight Howard if he leaves
By Jason Reed
1. Tristan Thompson
The 29-year-old Tristan Thompson is set to be a free agent this offseason and is not going to get anywhere close to the kind of contract that he got from the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he definitely is above a minimum contract value, so if the Lakers were to bring him in, it would likely be on a mid-level exception or less.
Thompson could get better options than the Lakers if they go less than the mid-level exception, so that is probably the most likely way to sign Thompson.
Thompson has familiarity in playing alongside LeBron James for their time on the Cleveland Cavaliers together. And while Thompson was not part of the Cavaliers’ big three, he was fairly important to the team during the playoff runs and would be to the Lakers as well.
Thompson is someone who could absolutely take a lesser role and is used to playing alongside a star four that can stretch the floor. He is really solid on the glass, averaging more than 10 rebounds in each of the last two seasons and is a solid rim-protector that could be maximized in Frank Vogel’s defensive scheme.
His familiarity with LeBron as well as his NBA Finals experience makes him a valuable commodity and one worth adding if the price is right.