Thomas Bryant Agrees To Sign A 1-Year Contract With Los Angeles Lakers

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Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have added yet another young piece to their growing roster after signing Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant on a 1-year contract. Bryant was drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2017 draft and spent a season with the team before being waived.

The Wizards signed Bryant in 2018 and he was developing really well, even having a 31-point game in 2018 where he went 14-14 from the field. Bryant would tear his ACL in 2021 and fell out of the Wizards rotation with Daniel Gafford and Kristaps Porzingis on the team. He played just 27 games last season, not having an impressive comeback from the injury. 

Signing with the Lakers gives him the chance to recover his stock on a possibly contending team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The 24-year-old can stretch the floor and is a shot-blocker, exactly what the Lakers need in a center that may have to share the floor with both Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers have approached free agency very differently this season as compared to what they did last year. Instead of signing 3-and-D veterans to supplement a 37-year-old LeBron James, the Lakers have filled the team with young blood that can develop off the mentorship veterans like LBJ, Russ, and AD have to offer.

Bryant had more offers from other teams with many looking at him as a high-value low-risk pickup, but the center has reportedly spurned the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks. With the Lakers, he has a genuine chance to be the team’s starting center, so it was the best opportunity for him.

The team has also added Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., Max Christie, Juan Toscano Anderson, and Damian Jones so far this offseason. While the names aren’t nearly as flashy as last year’s, they are possibly going to be better equipped to deal with the physical stress of an 82-game campaign. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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