Mathias Lessort, France
Mathias Lessort was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Summer Olympics. The 28-year-old was stellar for France, playing with relentless energy and physicality inside that helped the French squad overcome the injury that limited Rudy Gobert's availability.
If you think the Olympics were a fluke, however, look no further than the fact that Lessort has become one of the most dominant players in Europe over the past two seasons.
Lessort was one of the star players on the Greek squad Panathinaikos which won the 2024 Euroleague championship. He was named First Team All-Euroleague in both 2023 and 2024, leading the league in rebounding during the former campaign.
Lessort also helped Panathinaikos win the 2024 Greek League championship, earning Finals MVP, and helped Partizan win the ABA League championship in 2023. He earned All-ABA honors and was named the ABA League Best Defender during the 2023 campaign
A force of nature on the European side of basketball, Lessort is a player whom the Los Angeles Lakers should consider taking a chance on. He's a 6'9" and 256-pound bruiser of a big with a 7'1" wingspan and relentless energy that the Lakers were missing in 2023-24.
The Lakers need depth along the interior, and adding Lessort on a veteran's minimum deal would be a risk-free endeavor that could pay off in the long run.