The Los Angeles Lakers are starting to click at just the right time-and Austin Reaves’ return might be the spark that’s helping them find their rhythm. While the team has been solid overall this season, there’s a sense that they’re still a few moves away from unlocking their full potential. One of those moves could be brewing behind the scenes, as the Lakers continue to tinker with the edges of their roster.
Their recent signing of rookie Kobe Bufkin added another layer of young talent to the mix, but it also tightened the roster. That said, the Lakers still have a few levers they can pull if they want to make room for a potential buyout addition.
The most straightforward path? Waiving one of their two-way players-names like Chris Manon or Nick Smith Jr. come to mind.
Doing so would reopen a roster spot without tying the team to any long-term financial commitments. The trade-off, of course, is that it limits them to minimum contract options.
But even at the minimum, there are intriguing names out there-none more eye-catching right now than Cam Thomas.
Thomas, recently released by the Brooklyn Nets, has always had one thing in his bag: buckets. He’s a pure scorer, the kind of microwave shooter who can come off the bench and instantly change the tempo of a game. For his career, he’s averaging 15.2 points per game, and this season he was putting up 15.6 points in just 24 appearances-even after missing 20 games with a hamstring injury.
There’s no question about what Thomas brings offensively. He’s a certified shot-maker who doesn’t need much space to get going.
But the question marks around his game are just as real. He’s yet to show consistency as a playmaker or defender, and he’s never posted those numbers on a team with real championship aspirations.
That’s the gamble.
Still, for a Lakers team that currently ranks near the bottom of the league in bench scoring, Thomas could be exactly the kind of offensive jolt they need. The second unit has struggled to maintain leads-or claw back into games-when LeBron James and Anthony Davis sit. Adding a guy like Thomas could change that dynamic in a hurry.
Of course, none of this happens without some roster maneuvering. The Lakers would need to clear a spot, and the front office will have to weigh whether Thomas’ scoring upside outweighs the limitations in other areas of his game. But with the playoffs inching closer and the Western Conference as competitive as ever, every edge matters.
Thomas is available. The Lakers have a need. And if they can make the numbers work, it’s hard to imagine them letting a scoring talent like this slip away to a rival.