Tag: Tristan Thompson

Lakers are signing Tristan Thompson, Shaquille Harrison

The Lakers have made two interesting additions ahead of the play-in tournament.

The Los Angeles Lakers have possessed a deep and well-balanced team  since they executed multiple trades ahead of the trade deadline.

They acquired forward Rui Hachimura in late January to address what was an utter lack of forward depth beyond LeBron James. Then came the blockbuster Russell Westbrook trade that brought back former All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell, defensive standout Jarred Vanderbilt and sharpshooter Malik Beasley.

For good measure, Los Angeles landed backup center Mo Bamba for veteran guard Patrick Beverley.

However, some believed even with Bamba, a good shot-blocker and 3-point shooter, the Lakers lacked center depth.

To that end, the team signed veteran big man Tristan Thompson, as well as guard Shaquille Harrison, on Sunday.

The Lakers have taken their time adding another center, but now they will have an additional one for the play-in tournament and, they hope, the playoffs.

 

Tristan Thompson on possible LeBron James-Kyrie Irving reunion

Tristan Thompson, a former teammate of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, seems to want the two stars to reunite on the Lakers.

When Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks several weeks ago, it was assumed the days of the Los Angeles Lakers trying to acquire him were all but over.

They had made two separate attempts to land him — one last summer and one prior to the Mavs putting together the package that the Brooklyn Nets said yes to.

On a recent HoopsHype podcast, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha said the Lakers plan on keeping their current roster intact rather than making yet another push at landing the talented yet enigmatic guard, who could become a free agent this summer.

But Tristan Thompson, a former teammate of Irving and LeBron James while with the Cleveland Cavaliers, believes the two are meant to be together once again.

Via Lakers Daily:

“I’ve been pushing that reuniting, coming together for so long,” Thompson answered when asked by Green about the potential James-Irving tandem. “With Kyrie and LeBron, it was almost like a match made in heaven. They brought the best out of each other. … It’s not over yet. There’s still a couple more chapters between them two that they can make some magic happen.”

Getting Irving to join the Purple and Gold, even if the organization is intent on making it happen, would be complicated and risky. Los Angeles would have to renounce several of its current players, including possibly Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt. Both have emerged as valuable pieces and popular players among the team’s fan base, in order to clear enough salary cap space to make Irving a satisfactory offer.

He could give the Lakers a true superteam that could actually be cohesive and make sense, basketball-wise, but it would mean they would be bereft of the depth and youth that is needed to seriously contend for the NBA championship these days.

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Seven Boston Celtics changing places in 2011 redraft

As has been the case in past iterations of the exercise, the authors have reassessed a number of alumni of the Boston Celtics. 

As has been their wont in recent weeks, the NBA analysts over at our sister site of Hoops Hype have been re-drafting each season of the recent history of the NBA to get each year’s big event “the way it should have been,” most recently putting their analytical expertise to work on doing the 2011 NBA draft over again with the benefit of hindsight.

A draft they have suggested has been underrated with as many as four future Hall of Famers within it, they do their best to right the wrongs of the general managers of that time. And as has been the case in past iterations of the exercise, the authors ( Frank Urbina and Raul Barrigon) have reassessed a number of alumni of the Boston Celtics.

Let’s see where Celtics alumni got taken in this redux.

Darvin Ham: Lakers have ‘no imminent plans’ to sign another center

The Lakers reportedly aren’t close to signing big men Tristan Thompson or Tony Bradley, who they brought in for a workout on Monday.

With a 35-37 record, the Los Angeles Lakers are in 11th place in the Western Conference, and their chances of making the playoffs are gradually waning.

As if their task of reaching the postseason after a lackluster first four months of the schedule wasn’t enough, they have been dealt a double dose of additional adversity: injuries that have sidelined LeBron James and Mo Bamba.

The absence of Bamba, who has a sprained ankle and will be out until at least early to mid-April, may be ignored by some fans. However, it is having an effect. The Lakers have been forced to go small when Anthony Davis isn’t on the court.

Last Wednesday, when Davis sat out the second game of a back-to-back set, the team was outrebounded by 15 and outscored in the paint, 78-46, in a loss to the Houston Rockets, who have the worst record in the West.

Los Angeles worked out big men Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley on Monday, yet head coach Darvin Ham said the team has “no imminent plans” to sign either.

The Lakers have been forced to make do with Wenyen Gabriel, Jarred Vanderbilt or Rui Hachimura, none of whom are taller than 6-foot-9, playing the 5 when Davis isn’t in the game.

They have 10 games left in the regular season, which includes their next contest versus the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

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Charania: Tristan Thompson ‘was in good shape’ during Lakers workout

Veteran big man Tristan Thompson reportedly looked good when the Lakers worked him out on Monday.

With LeBron James and Mo Bamba out due to injury, the Los Angeles Lakers’ frontline is a bit small as the regular season winds down and their chase for a playoff spot gets more heated.

Other than Anthony Davis, they only have Wenyen Gabriel, who is 6 feet, 9 inches and 205 pounds, Rui Hachimura at 6 feet, 8 inches and 230 pounds and Jarred Vanderbilt at a lean 6 feet, 8 inches and 214 pounds to play center. Obviously, Gabriel, Hachimura and Vanderbilt should never be playing the position.

On Monday, the Lakers reportedly brought in Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley for a workout to see if either has what it takes to plug the hole at the backup 5 spot.

Sham Charania reported Thompson was in good shape during the session (h/t Silver Screen and Roll).

“I’m told the Lakers worked out both Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley. I’m told Thompson was in good shape. Tony Bradley, he’s a guy that played this year for the Bulls, there’s a little more recency with his level of play. Tristan Thompson has yet to play this year. … He finished (last) year with the Bulls, actually was a teammate of Tony Bradley’s, supplanted him in the rotation last season in the rotation when the Bulls got him in the buyout market. So we’ll see. The Lakers have one open roster spot, they’ve looked into big men in the market place, we’ll see if they decide to sign Thompson or Tony Bradley in the coming days.”

Thompson, 32, was teammates with James when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA championship in 2016. He averaged 6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game last season for three teams.

Bamba is expected to be re-evaluated at some point in early April. Until then, L.A. could definitely use some help in the middle.

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Lakers will reportedly work out Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley

The Lakers are apparently looking for some help at the center position with Mo Bamba out for at least a couple more weeks.

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers are clinging to 10th place in the Western Conference after they slipped past the Orlando Magic on Sunday, 111-105, thanks to a monster game from Austin Reaves.

They continue to be short-handed while LeBron James is continues his recovery from a right foot tendon injury. He doesn’t appear to be close to a return yet.

In addition, backup center Mo Bamba, who was starting to help with his ability to rebound, block shots and hit 3-pointers after he was acquired via trade in February, is still out with a sprained ankle. He is expected to be re-evaluated in early April, but it is unknown if he will be able to return before the end of the regular season.

His injury has left L.A. small when Anthony Davis is resting. Forward Wenyen Gabriel is manning the center spot in such situations and always plays his heart out, but he is a svelte 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds.

In an attempt to patch up their frontline, the Lakers will reportedly work out big men Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley in the coming days.

Thompson, like Gabriel, is 6-foot-9, but at over 250 pounds, he has a much rounder and more rugged physique. He was teammates with James when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA championship, and the James/Klutch Sports influence could be a factor here.

Bradley, who is 6-foot-10 and nearly 250 pounds, was actually drafted by the Lakers in 2017 before being sent to the Utah Jazz on draft day for Thomas Bryant and Josh Hart. He was waived just a few weeks ago by the Chicago Bulls.

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On this day: Boston becomes first team to win 60 games; Waldron, Thompson born

On this day, a Celtics president and big man were born, and the team made history by winning 60 games in a single season for the first time.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to win 60 games in a regular season with a victory on this date in 1962, going 80-20 overall in the 1961-62 NBA season with a 142-110 blowout of the (then) Syracuse Nationals (now, Philadelphia 76ers).

The game took place at the old Boston Garden and saw forward Tom Sanders lead the Celtics in scoring with 30 points and 26 rebounds. Iconic Boston big man Bill Russell put up an absurd 26 points and 37 boards to help secure the win, and forward Tom Heinsohn chipped in another 19 points as well.

Boston would hold that record for three seasons, only to break it themselves with 62 wins in the 1964–65 season. The Celtics would go on to win their fifth title that year, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in seven games.

Texas men’s basketball all-time roster: Longhorn Legends

Which legends make the Texas all-time basketball roster?

Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament will be here before we know it on March 12.

The University of Texas men’s basketball program has a storied history and Rodney Terry’s team is hoping to add to it this year.

Texas is in solid position to make a run in the postseason tournament, currently ranked as the No. 7 squad in the country. Although the Longhorns have lost their last two conference games, ESPN’s latest bracketology projects Texas as a No. 2 seed in the East Region.

To get you ready for March Madness, Longhorns Wire chose one head coach, two assistants and 10 players to make up an all-time roster. Let’s kick it off with the no-brainer choice for head coach.

Ex-Boston big man Tristan Thompson a potential Brooklyn Nets signing target

As the Nets look to fill out their roster for 2022-23 in the wake of the end of the KD trade request saga, Thompson is reportedly a player to keep an eye on.

Another unsigned Boston Celtics alumnus might find himself a home playing with the Brooklyn Nets. The team is looking to add frontcourt depth after star forward Kevin Durant rescinded his trade request earlier this week, according to new reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Ex-Boston big man Tristan Thompson played 54 games for the Celtics before he was dealt to the Sacramento Kings as part of the deal that brought back reserve guard Kris Dunn and backup big man Bruno Fernando in 2021. The Canadian center has since played with the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls but has remained unsigned after his contract with the Bulls expired at the end of the 2021-22 season.

With little in the way of proven depth in the frontcourt beyond Nick Claxton and Ben Simmons, bringing on sturdier bigs able to hold their own with some of the larger bodies in the NBA would make sense for Brooklyn moving forward.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Thanasis Antetokounmpo hilariously broke up fight with Tristan Thompson by simply pointing to the scoreboard

SCOREBOARD!

When you are the reigning champions, like the Milwaukee Bucks are, you have the right to behave with certain confidence when you are on the court.

As the most recent owners of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, the Bucks can always default to that as their default response. However, they can act even more self-assured in any single game when they are also dominating their opponent.

That is exactly what happened against the Bulls on Tuesday evening, but the Bucks needed to remind Chicago big man Tristan Thompson.

When the game was almost over, the two teams got scrappy when Thompson refused to let go over Serge Ibaka’s shorts after boxing out for a rebound.

Ibaka and Thompson got in each other’s faces and it didn’t take long until both of their respective teammates sprinted over to try to stick up for their squad.

But the most interesting moment of the squabble came after things began to cool off a bit and the skirmish devolved from physicality to bickering.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of reigning NBA Finals MVP and two-time NBA MVP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, attempted to de-escalate the situation.

Thankfully, things didn’t get out of hand, partially thanks to the fact that Antetokounmpo’s strategy was laugh-out-loud caliber funny. He simply pointed to the scoreboard to remind Thompson that the Bulls were down by more than 30 points.

Antetokounmpo is absolutely correct in that there is nothing to fight about when your team is already getting annihilated. This thing is over. Get ready to hit the ice baths and call it a night.

For both teams, the playoffs are coming soon and it is better to save your energy and your pent-up scrappiness for that environment than to waste it during the tail end of a blowout.

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