2 former LeBron James teammates the Los Angeles Lakers can sign

By Jason Reed | May 1, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakersl against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson does not get enough credit for his role on the title-winning 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. While it was LeBron, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love running the show, Thompson was a key member of that Cavaliers team, especially with his size.

Thompson got paid for being a key member of that team and he is now entering the stage of his career as a center where he will bounce around from team to team on minimum deals. The league knows that these traditional shot-blocking and rebounding bigs are not worth big contracts and Thompson is going to follow the career path of Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee.

Thompson would be an upgrade from Dwight Howard if he was that traditional big for the Los Angeles Lakers. While Howard has his moments and was really good for LA two seasons ago, he has lost a step athletically and it shows.

Thompson can do all of the same things that Howard does but he still has some of that athleticism. After all, Thompson is still only 31 years old while Howard is going to turn 37 in December.

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While his numbers are not that great even as a role center, if there is one thing we have learned it is that LeBron James makes big men better. Back with LeBron James as a rotational center, Thompson can be an important depth piece for the regular season.