Lakers work out centers, say no change to Anthony Davis’ management plan

Laker center for hire? Well, not right away.

The Lakers (35-37) got a look at Tristan Thompson and Tony Bradley on Monday: Both veteran big men worked out for the team, which has an open roster spot. Thompson, 32, is the more well-known of the two, notably winning a championship alongside LeBron James as a member of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson averaged 6 points and 5.1 rebounds while playing for three different NBA teams last season but hasn’t played for one this season; Bradley played 33 total minutes earlier this season for Chicago.

Coach Darvin Ham suggested the Lakers were getting a look at both more for a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation rather than getting ready to sign either to a 10-day contract.

“No imminent plans,” he said. “Just kicking the tires to see, making sure we get people in front of us if whatever circumstance changes or whatever, we’ll know they’ve been in front of us and we’ve gotten to see them first hand. Just doing our due diligence.”

The Lakers have been light in the frontcourt for weeks. While the team expects forward LeBron James back before the end of the season, his right foot tendon injury has dragged on for more than three weeks. Center Mo Bamba, who the Lakers traded for at the deadline, is out with a right ankle sprain and could miss the rest of the regular season.

That has left the Lakers shorthanded with bigs, especially on back-to-backs when Anthony Davis has not yet been cleared to play both games. But a report from TNT’s Chris Haynes suggested that Davis might play both nights of the April 4-5 back-to-back at Utah and the Clippers, respectively. Ham seemed noncommittal when asked about the report.

“We have a plan in place and we’re following that plan closely,” he said. “If anything should change when we get to that moment, you’ll be the first to know. But outside of that, we’re sticking to our plan as of right now.”

LAKERS TRY TO TAKE A LOAD OFF

Instead of a full-contact practice on Tuesday, the Lakers took it easy: The team watched film, had a walkthrough and a league meeting a day ahead of a home showdown with the Phoenix Suns (38-33). For Ham, the payoff is keeping his roster from accruing additional wear and tear amid a number of critical games.

While practices might help the still-blending roster gain a little chemistry, Ham also said most players, whether they’re on the injury report or not, are still dealing with some bumps and bruises.

“Just the medical vantage point that the new technology allows you to see from, you just really have to be smart,” he said. “You can’t think like a dinosaur and expect to run out with the Ferraris, you know what I’m saying? You just have to bite the bullet and know that the people who are in those positions and are giving you the information, they are experts.”

The Suns understand the pitfalls of injury well: Neither Kevin Durant nor DeAndre Ayton, two of their key big men, made the trip to Los Angeles.

That being said: The Lakers are fighting history on Wednesday night. Including their first-round playoff series against Phoenix in 2021, they’ve lost nine consecutive head-to-head meetings. While Ham said reversing course against a division rival is not necessarily the aim, there is plenty of pressure to win with their Western foes in the standings doing well to start the week. The Lakers were in 11th place going into Tuesday’s slate of games.

“I see a bit of hunger,” he said. “When we don’t execute a play, or we have a breakdown defensively, I see disappointment. I don’t see anyone being discouraged. I see the accountability of guys wanting to get it right over and over and over again. So, I think we’re in a good place mentally and spiritually in terms of the job that we have to do and the work that’s at hand.”