Los Angeles Lakers: 5 free agent targets to repeat in 2020-21

4. Tristan Thompson

Ah yes, the perks that come along with having LeBron James in your squad. James and his mastermind of an agent, Rich Paul, played a major role in recruiting AD to the Lakers and might look to do the same with Tristan Thompson.

Bringing Davis to LA was not the only move Rich Paul has made to improve a LeBron-led team. Players like J.R. Smith, Markieff Morris, Dion Waiters and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have all been influenced by Paul to head for Los Angeles.

A lot is still unknown about the team’s center situation for next season. Will JaVale and Dwight be back? Will Davis slide over to that spot and take over? Regardless of that, Tristan Thompson should be thought of as a serious candidate to suit up as a Laker next season.

Since entering the NBA in 2011, Thompson has made a name for himself as being one of the league’s top rebounders. In fact, he’s averaged over 10 rebounds per 36 minutes in each of his nine seasons played, apart from his rookie year where he grabbed 9.8 boards per 36 minutes.

His offensive game needs a lot to be desired, but then again, that’s not what the Lakers are after anyways. In Tristan, you get a hustle guy that will wait patiently in the paint, eager to fight for every rebound. Basically everything the team’s current centers did, but better.

Reuniting players that have previously won a title together can’t go wrong, right?