12:45pm: The Lakers have officially signed Thompson and Harrison while waiving Reed, the team confirmed in a press release.
10:43am: The Lakers are making a pair of roster additions to fortify their depth ahead of the postseason, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, who reports (via Twitter) that center Tristan Thompson and guard Shaquille Harrison are joining the team.
Los Angeles had an open spot on its 15-man standard roster, so only one cut will be necessary to make room for the two incoming veterans. Davon Reed will be the odd man out and will be placed on waivers today, per McMenamin.
Thompson, 32, has been out of the NBA for the entire 2022/23 season but worked out for the Lakers last month and played alongside Lakers star LeBron James for several years in Cleveland.
The big man averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 57 games (15.7 MPG) for the Kings, Pacers, and Bulls last season and has career averages of 9.0 PPG and 8.4 RPG in 730 games. Thompson also has no shortage of postseason experience, having appeared in 88 career playoff contests for the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Bulls.
Harrison has made 180 regular season appearances for six NBA teams since making his debut in 2018. Like Thompson, the 29-year-old guard hasn’t been in the league for most of this season, though he did play five games while on a 10-day contract with the Trail Blazers. That deal expired overnight on Saturday, freeing him up to join a new team.
Harrison was actually in training camp with the Lakers last fall, but was cut at the end of the preseason and ended up playing for the South Bay Lakers, L.A.’s G League affiliate. Known as a stout perimeter defender, he finished third in NBAGL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Reed, who will turn 28 in June, joined the Lakers along with Mohamed Bamba as part of the four-team February trade that sent Thomas Bryant to Denver. He never cracked L.A.’s regular rotation though, logging just 27 total minutes across eight games with his new team. His minimum salary for 2023/24 is fully non-guaranteed, so the Lakers won’t be on the hook for any money for him beyond this season.
Both Thompson and Harrison will be eligible to play in the postseason for the Lakers because neither one has been waived since March 1.
How is it roster depth when they are ineligible for the playoffs?
They are eligible.
Both Thompson and Harrison will be eligible to play in the postseason for the Lakers because neither one has been waived since March 1.
I think they are eligible? I think they would have to have been cut by a certain date to be playoff eligible. Thompson wasn’t on a team so he should be in the clear. I thought Harrison just played for Portland yesterday, so I’m unsure on that one.
Players on 10 day contracts don’t count towards playoff eligibility. If a player is signed to a 10 day deal like Harrison was, he remains playoff eligible for anyone he signs with after the deal, regardless of the March 1st deadline
Final games are all at 12:30pm
Now is about 11:00am
Most West teams have not submitted the injury reports.
Planning to lose?
Need to Investigate?
You work in the the league offices?
Suns are considered a certified championship.
Lisa Leslie talked about this
Lakers and Clippers are title ready.
So, because Lisa Leslie says it is so, cancel the playoffs. Crown the Suns.
Candace Parker says you are certifiable.
No one cares about a WNBA players opinion lmao
You can put draymond green at the same category as well
My lord. As soon as I saw LAL was gonna workout TT and Tony Bradley, it was 100% they signed TT. They’re just always gonnna signed the washed vet that makes no sense but has a “big name.” Without fail. Drummond was an awful fit, terrible rim protector, can’t shoot, just rebounds. Harrell for full MLE. Awful. 6”6 6”7 C who doesn’t rly defend, he’s just a guy who can score on second units when there’s a ton of spacing. They gave him like a 1+1 for MLE too so around 2/19M w player option. Horrifying.
There’s a reason TT isn’t signed. He’s not good. He fouls a lot, bad FT shooter, not a good shot blocker, not a great finisher, undersized, (6”8) etc. He’s good at crashing the glass I guess…but hasn’t played in nba for a year. I wanted them to sign Hartenstein when CLE let him go. I wanted them to sign Tony Bradley. They need a big body who’s younger, can bang in the post on D, etc. Bradley is 6”9.25 without shoes, 6”10.75 with. 7”5 wingspan, 250lbs, while being one of fastest bigs in shuttle run drill. Just turned 25yo. Way better finisher and lob threat than TT.
Also wtf at Shaq Harrison? Another non shooting small tweaner guard? Davon Reed is 6”5 without shoes, 7ft wingspan, good defender, p fast vertically, 36in vertical. 39.5% 3P in college and 38.5% 3P on low volume in NBA. WTF ARE WE DOING???????
Honestly, as a Bulls fan, neither Bradley nor Thompson seems to have much to offer. Harrison is a dog on defense, and pests get some minutes in the playoffs sometimes.
Adult summer leagues have more stringent rules on players being eligible for the playoffs