NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Landing Spots For Tristan Thompson

NBA trade season is officially over as Thursday's 3:00 PM NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone. That being said, many teams will still be actively looking to add that one last piece to the championship puzzle, but they will have to rely on the actions of others in order to do so. Many players are expected to be bought out of their current contracts, making them free agents and allowing them to sign with any team they choose. Over the next couple of days, we will be looking at some of those buyout candidates, and which teams they will most likely end up with for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

This article is highlighting the Indiana Pacers' newly acquired PF/C Tristan Thompson.

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls decided to stay pat at the deadline, banking on continued chemistry and development over bringing in a rotation player who may take away from what the team has already worked so hard to build this season. While the Bulls may not want to rock the boat too much, a player like Thompson can slide into his role without disrupting those around him. Thompson doesn't need the ball to be effective, and he would provide an upgrade over Tony Bradley to come off the bench in relief of starter Nikola Vucevic. Pippen Ain't Easy reported that the Bulls are making signing Thompson a "priority".

Los Angeles Lakers

Remember when LeBron James publicly lobbied for Tristan Thompson to get a max contract when they played together on the Cavaliers? Well, Tristan Thompson probably does, and the two share agent Rich Paul and are said to be close friends off the court. The NBA has often been criticized for the way that players team up with their friends, but Thompson going to the Lakers makes some sense. Both Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan have fallen out of favor with head coach Frank Vogel, and the two centers barely see the court lately. Perhaps Thompson's pick-and-roll defense is better suited for whatever scheme Vogel is trying to run, and he could take the pressure off of Anthony Davis in the post with his rebounding ability as well - specifically on offense.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are currently 6th in the Eastern Conference and are just four games back of the first-place Miami Heat. The Raptors made a minor move Thursday acquiring Thaddeus Young from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Goran Dragic, but the Raptors still have a serious need at the center position. Their most common starting lineup does not feature a natural center, and the Raptors could use some size heading into the playoffs. Tristan Thompson brings interior toughness and championship experience to a young team that doesn't have much of either and while he is undersized at 6'9", the only current Raptor that is taller is 6'10" D.J. Wilson.