LA Lakers Rumors Roundup: Lakers looking to reunite with former center, 'Plan B' in place if they can't acquire Kyrie Irving and more | July 2nd, 2022

The LA Lakers were quite active on the first day of free agency and were able to add four role players for next season. They signed Lonnie Walker to a one-year, $6.48 million deal. Walker will replace Malik Monk, who joined the Sacramento Kings, in the team's rotation.

Meanwhile, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Troy Brown Jr. and Damian Jones all signed one-year deals for minimum salary. The Lakers reduced the average age of their roster by bringing in the four new players, but they still need to make improvements. They have been linked with a move for Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets.

On that note here is the latest LA Lakers rumors roundup for July 2nd brought to you by Sportskeeda.

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LA Lakers looking to sign center Thomas Bryant

Thomas Bryant spent his rookie season with the LA Lakers.

According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the LA Lakes have a one-year, minimum salary offer for free agent center Thomas Bryant. The 24-year-old big man spent the first year of his career with the Lakers, playing 15 games in the 2017-18 season.

Bryant spent the next four years of his career with the Washington Wizards. He developed into a good player, averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2020. However, he suffered a torn ACL at the start of the 2020-21 season. He returned to play 27 games last season.

Turner also noted that the Toronto Raptors are interested in Bryant's services, while Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports linked him to the Boston Celtics. Bryant would be a nice addition to the Lakers due to his ability to stretch the floor. He averages 35% from beyond the arc.

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Buddy Hield, Eric Gordon are "Plan B" if Kyrie Irving trade does not materialize

The LA Lakers almost acquired Buddy Hield last season.

The LA Lakers have been linked to Kyrie Irving, but Dave McMenamin of ESPN thinks that the Lakers have a "Plan B" just in case their pursuit of the Nets guard fails.

McMenamin said on a recent episode of "NBA Today" that the Lakers could look to trade for Buddy Hield or Eric Gordon. The Indiana Pacers are rebuilding and could be interested in acquiring assets, while Gordon does not fit into the Houston Rockets' plans.

"If Kyrie doesn't work out, they have plans in place," McMenamin said. "Plans they hope they'll be able to execute to achieve shooting on that roster in other directions. Whether that be a veteran like Buddy Hield, who they almost got on last year on draft day."

"And you see Indiana just traded away Malcolm Brogdon and there could be more moves to come, or perhaps a guy like Eric Gordon in Houston. Those guys aren't Kyrie Irving, of course, but they are players they feel they may be able to acquire to help their team."

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Blake Griffin eyeing return to LA

Blake Griffin of the Brooklyn Nets

Blake Griffin made a name for himself with the LA Clippers. Griffin spent the first seven-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Clippers. After four years in Detroit and two in Brooklyn, Griffin is a free agent for the first time in his career.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Griffin is interested in returning to Los Angeles. However, Fischer told Marc Stein on their Substack podcast that the six-time All-Star might prefer signing with the LA Lakers over the Clippers. Griffin was unexpectedly traded by the Clippers midway through the 2017-18 season.

"It sounds like he's going to go to Los Angeles?" Stein said. "The Clippers would be a pretty weird funny, silly outcome with the whole exit there, so the Lakers would make more sense in that regard. But I can't tell you which one is more likely."