Lakers sign Tristan Thompson and Shaq Harrison for playoff depth.

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers signed veterans Tristan Thompson and Shaq Harrison on Sunday, before the end of the regular season, for depth in the playoffs. 

Before the move, the Lakers had only one open roster spot. To create an extra spot, they waived guard Davon Reed, whom they acquired via trade from the Nuggets for center Thomas Bryant, to make room for both players. 

Thompson is a playoff-experienced big man who won an NBA championship with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2016. Thompson last played for the Chicago Bulls and had a short stint with the Pacers and Kings in the 2021–22 season, averaging 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. 

Harrison, who was a part of the Lakers G-league team, the South Bay Lakers, before being with the Portland Trail Blazers on a 10-day contract, averaged 8.8 points, 6.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 24.0 minutes per game in that 10-day span. 

On Saturday against the Clippers, on Harrison's last day of his contract with the Blazers, Harrison finished with 13 points, ten assists, six rebounds, four steals, and a block in 26 minutes. 

With the Lakers' last game of the season on Sunday against the Utah Jazz, the addition to the roster's depth comes at the perfect time for a hopeful playoff run, as each team's opponents are almost set.