5. Thomas Bryant
Thomas Bryant is the wild card of this list as it is hard to really pinpoint what his value might be this summer. There is a chance that the Lakers could sign him for the league minimum this summer but there is also the chance that another team offers slightly more, taking the Lakers out of the picture.
Bryant is much younger than any player on this list as he will be just 25 years old when the 2022-23 season begins. However, age does not always keep you from being a minimum signing. Just look at Malik Monk.
Bryant could take a similar path looking to prove himself on a big-market team to get better offers next offseason. Why would he even be worth the minimum, though? He has not been able to stay healthy. After getting a decent payday from the Washington Wizards, Bryant has played just 37 combined games the last two years.
That is a risk for the Lakers but as a minimum signing at the center position, the team can handle it. If the Lakers get the best version of Bryant they will get the best center they have had in the LeBron James era.
Bryant does have unfinished business with the Lakers as well. After being one of the best players in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to simply let him go for free. It was obviously a mistake then and Bryant proved that by becoming a quality rotational center in Washington.
Now it would come full circle if the Lakers were to get him back with other teams not believing in him just as the Lakers didn’t before.