The Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Cam Thomas and Haywood Highsmith on the NBA buyout market, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
The Brooklyn Nets waived Highsmith and Thomas. Both players are unrestricted free agents.
“Next will be evaluating a group of buyout candidates,” Woike wrote. “Team and league sources say wing Haywood Highsmith is a player of interest, provided his knee issues are resolved. Cam Thomas, his former Nets teammate, is another more polarizing option.”
Thomas is averaging 15.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season, while Highsmith hasn’t played because he’s recovering from knee surgery.
The Lakers made only one trade at the trade deadline. They traded Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard.
Los Angeles is saving its draft capital and cap space because the front office plans to pursue a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason.
The Lakers can offer up to three first-round picks to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo. In addition, Los Angeles can absorb Antetokounmpo’s contract into cap space without Milwaukee having to take back potentially unwanted salary.
LeBron James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. It’s unknown whether the NBA legend will retire or continue playing.
The Lakers’ goal is to pair Luka Dončić with another superstar and Antetokounmpo obviously fits that bill. Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but most people expect Los Angeles to re-sign the talented shooting guard.
As of this writing, the Lakers are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
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