Tristan Thompson.Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Lakers have signedTristan Thompsonto bolster the squad’s depth ahead of the must-win NBA play-in tournament.Thompson already has a winning playoff history withLeBron Jamesthanks to their historic run to secure theCavaliers' first-ever championship in 2016against theGolden State Warriors.The Lakers also signedShaq Harrison, fresh off a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers which expired Sunday. The 29-year-old point guard notched a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in his final game for the Blazers on Saturday. Harrison previously played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League.Thompson will give the Lakers added depth in the center position as a potential backup forAnthony Davisand Jarred Vanderbilt. He last played for the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22, averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. The Lakers front office will hope he makes for an easy fit alongsideJames, with the pair making the NBA finals together for four consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018.But for the Lakers to even make theNBA playoffsthey must first get through the play-in tournament after finishing the regular season in seventh position in the Western Conference.Joseph Okpako/WireImageJames put up 36 points in a 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the play-in tournament. The Lakers needed Golden State Warriors to lose in order to jump up into the safety of sixth position on the ladder. The Warriors ended up thumping the Portland Trailblazers 157-101 on Sunday.The Lakers now face off with the eighth-placed Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in the play-ins. A home-game win will see the Lakers through to theplayoffs to face the second-seed Memphis Grizzliesand star guardJa Morant.A loss against the controversy-plagued Timberwolves will mean the Lakers are sent to a sudden-death elimination game against the winner of the other Western Conference play-in (either the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Thompson could end up facing off against Minnesota’s centerRudy Goberton Tuesday, who was sent home during Sunday’s game after he threw a punch at his own teammate, Kyle Anderson. Wolves young gun Jaden McDaniels is also out for the season after he fractured his hand punching a wall at halftime in their 113-108 victory over the Pelicans on Sunday.Meanwhile, Thompson joining the Lakers means he will likely be based full-time in LA, where he shares two children withKhloé Kardashian.
Tristan Thompson.Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers have signedTristan Thompsonto bolster the squad’s depth ahead of the must-win NBA play-in tournament.Thompson already has a winning playoff history withLeBron Jamesthanks to their historic run to secure theCavaliers' first-ever championship in 2016against theGolden State Warriors.The Lakers also signedShaq Harrison, fresh off a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers which expired Sunday. The 29-year-old point guard notched a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in his final game for the Blazers on Saturday. Harrison previously played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League.Thompson will give the Lakers added depth in the center position as a potential backup forAnthony Davisand Jarred Vanderbilt. He last played for the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22, averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. The Lakers front office will hope he makes for an easy fit alongsideJames, with the pair making the NBA finals together for four consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018.But for the Lakers to even make theNBA playoffsthey must first get through the play-in tournament after finishing the regular season in seventh position in the Western Conference.Joseph Okpako/WireImageJames put up 36 points in a 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the play-in tournament. The Lakers needed Golden State Warriors to lose in order to jump up into the safety of sixth position on the ladder. The Warriors ended up thumping the Portland Trailblazers 157-101 on Sunday.The Lakers now face off with the eighth-placed Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in the play-ins. A home-game win will see the Lakers through to theplayoffs to face the second-seed Memphis Grizzliesand star guardJa Morant.A loss against the controversy-plagued Timberwolves will mean the Lakers are sent to a sudden-death elimination game against the winner of the other Western Conference play-in (either the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder).Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Thompson could end up facing off against Minnesota’s centerRudy Goberton Tuesday, who was sent home during Sunday’s game after he threw a punch at his own teammate, Kyle Anderson. Wolves young gun Jaden McDaniels is also out for the season after he fractured his hand punching a wall at halftime in their 113-108 victory over the Pelicans on Sunday.Meanwhile, Thompson joining the Lakers means he will likely be based full-time in LA, where he shares two children withKhloé Kardashian.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signedTristan Thompsonto bolster the squad’s depth ahead of the must-win NBA play-in tournament.
Thompson already has a winning playoff history withLeBron Jamesthanks to their historic run to secure theCavaliers' first-ever championship in 2016against theGolden State Warriors.
The Lakers also signedShaq Harrison, fresh off a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers which expired Sunday. The 29-year-old point guard notched a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double in his final game for the Blazers on Saturday. Harrison previously played for the South Bay Lakers in the G League.
Thompson will give the Lakers added depth in the center position as a potential backup forAnthony Davisand Jarred Vanderbilt. He last played for the Chicago Bulls in 2021-22, averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds. The Lakers front office will hope he makes for an easy fit alongsideJames, with the pair making the NBA finals together for four consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2018.
But for the Lakers to even make theNBA playoffsthey must first get through the play-in tournament after finishing the regular season in seventh position in the Western Conference.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage
James put up 36 points in a 128-117 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the play-in tournament. The Lakers needed Golden State Warriors to lose in order to jump up into the safety of sixth position on the ladder. The Warriors ended up thumping the Portland Trailblazers 157-101 on Sunday.
The Lakers now face off with the eighth-placed Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in the play-ins. A home-game win will see the Lakers through to theplayoffs to face the second-seed Memphis Grizzliesand star guardJa Morant.
A loss against the controversy-plagued Timberwolves will mean the Lakers are sent to a sudden-death elimination game against the winner of the other Western Conference play-in (either the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder).
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Thompson could end up facing off against Minnesota’s centerRudy Goberton Tuesday, who was sent home during Sunday’s game after he threw a punch at his own teammate, Kyle Anderson. Wolves young gun Jaden McDaniels is also out for the season after he fractured his hand punching a wall at halftime in their 113-108 victory over the Pelicans on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Thompson joining the Lakers means he will likely be based full-time in LA, where he shares two children withKhloé Kardashian.
source: people.com
