Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal. The Lakers will give him a chance to start for the franchise in a year that they hope to compete for an NBA Championship. Los Angeles is taking a different approach this offseason with younger talent in preparation for potentially trading for Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. Bryant spent his first season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers before spending the next four with the Washington Wizards.
Free agent Thomas Bryant has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal and will be given opportunity to win starting center position, league sources tell @YahooSports: https://t.co/J6Rg5ECNuf
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 6, 2022
Injuries have slowed him down and in the past two seasons, he only played 37 games. In his five-year career, Thomas Bryant has averaged 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 59 percent and a three-point percentage of 35 percent. Bryant will be just 25 years old when the season starts with plenty of potential left on the court. The chance to start likely tipped him toward the Los Angeles Lakers over the Boston Celtics.
Thomas Bryant gives the Lakers more size, youth and interior defense. He shot 40+% on 3s in 19-20 and 20-21. He should have a solid bounce-back season with more time since his ACL tear. Smart gamble on a soon-to-be-25yo. Their frontcourt projects to be much better this season.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 6, 2022
The Los Angeles Lakers have limited funds to work with and have to prioritize smart deals on cheap deals. Bryant and the other players signed this offseason have been younger, athletic, and several of them shoot well. The team hopes to win an NBA Championship with Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and maybe Kyrie Irving.
