Lakers work out Isaiah Thomas, Darren Collison and Mike James as possible third point guards, per report

The Los Angeles Lakers have been among the many most energetic groups within the early portion of free company, however they have been suspiciously quiet since their opening flurry yielded a 12-man roster plagued by future Corridor of Famers and veterans looking for championship rings. 

We at the moment are greater than two weeks into free company and the Lakers nonetheless have three roster spots left to fill, however that may not be the case for lengthy. In response to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers labored out three veteran guards just lately as they try so as to add an additional level guard behind Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Nunn. 

These three veteran guards are Isaiah Thomas, Darren Collison and Mike James. Thomas is a former All-Star with the Boston Celtics however has struggled to discover a regular NBA residence since injuring his hip within the 2017 playoffs. He performed with LeBron James in Cleveland, after which spent a part of the 2017-18 season with the Lakers after a midseason commerce away from the Cavaliers. On paper, he could be an odd match on a Lakers staff loaded with ball-handlers and scorers. Even at his greatest, Thomas was a poor defender due to his small stature. Haynes notes that Thomas labored out with James and Westbrook personally.

Thomas is coming off of an 81-point game on the Crawsover Pro-Am Match final week in Portland. Whereas the competitors was not significantly stiff, the explosion is promising with regard to his well being. Thomas has performed in solely 55 video games over the previous three seasons with the Nuggets, Wizards and Pelicans. He averaged 11.1 factors on 39.3 p.c capturing in these video games. 

Collison, a Southern California native who performed at UCLA with Westbrook, surprisingly retired earlier than 2019 free company, when he doubtless would have been a Lakers goal. He thought of returning through the 2019-20 season and even attended a Lakers recreation courtside with proprietor Jeanie Buss, however finally remained retired. Collison is a 3-point specialist who led the NBA by making 46.8 p.c of his makes an attempt within the 2017-18 season in Indiana. James has no connection to the Lakers, particularly, however he did briefly play with Anthony Davis on the New Orleans Pelicans. He shined as a reserve for the Brooklyn Nets final season. 

The Lakers are additionally looking for one other wing with one among their closing roster spots along with a backup guard, based on Haynes. That needs to be the extent of their offseason motion, as Haynes experiences that the Lakers are doubtless to enter subsequent season with solely 14 gamers slightly than the utmost 15 as a way to maximize in-season flexibility. Haynes additionally reported that veteran ahead and beloved teammate Jared Dudley is unlikely to return subsequent season due to that roster crunch, and that the Lakers might select to herald a number of gamers to compete at coaching camp for these closing spots. 

With 12 gamers already signed, anybody the Lakers add at this level would doubtless begin the season out of the rotation, however after final season’s damage points, nearly each member of the roster needs to be anticipated to play sooner or later. On a roster through which solely 5 gamers at the moment make greater than the minimal wage, minutes shouldn’t be assured to anyone past James, Westbrook and Davis.