The focus of the 2025 offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers was finding depth at the center position. Adding DeAndre Ayton was obviously the biggest move, and was quickly followed by a surprise reunion with Jaxson Hayes. While Hayes was extremely unhelpful in the postseason, there was chemistry with Luka when the stakes weren't so high. There is reason to believe he can be a valuable rotational piece in the regular season. If this is the case and Ayton lives up to expectations, the team has gone a long way in fixing its concerns. Still, it never hurts to bring in veteran depth, and one clear fit remains in free agency.
But Hayes sorting out his playoff struggles and Ayton maturing into the player it once seemed like he could become will take some serious veteran leadership. And that's something one of LeBron James' old friends could provide.
LeBron James-Tristan Thompson Reunion Could Be Perfect for Lakers
NBA champion and former LeBron James teammate Tristan Thompson remains a free agent after spending last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the veteran isn't anything close to what he was years ago, there is still value in having him on your bench in a mentor-type role.
Building out a roster isn't just about finding scorers and bench contributors, but also players who have experience and will stay engaged. This is what the Los Angeles front office failed to learn from the team's last championship run. Turn back the clock to the bubble team, and look at the myriad of veterans the team had both on the bench and in the rotation.
The Lakers built out a complete roster that stayed ready to contribute and worked to make each other better. Thompson fits this and has championship experience helping LeBron complete the infamous 3-1 comeback against the Golden State Warriors during the legend's time in Cleveland. All of this adds up to an obvious fit that won't cost the Lakers anything of note.
Even for an organization that has been hesitant to spend in free agency, it's hard to see a financial problem bringing in a veteran who will make a bottom-of-the-league salary. It might not be a splashy addition, but it is important depth that makes the Lakers better.