Thomas Bryant’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers has ended. The Lakers traded the 6-foot-11 center to the Denver Nuggets for guard Davon Reed, and three future second-round draft picks.
Bryant returned to the Lakers this past summer after spending four seasons with the Washington Wizards. He hoped to get his career back on track after suffering a torn ACL during the 2020-21 season.
After sitting out the first 13 games of the season, Bryant emerged as a productive center. He started 25 games in place of an injured Anthony Davis. In those starts, Bryant averaged 14.5 points and 8.6 rebounds. He also shot 47.2% from three.
However, Davis returned from his foot injury on Jan. 25. Thus, Bryant grew unhappy with his diminished role and asked the Lakers for a better situation, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Bryant outplayed his one-year, $2.1 million contract. The Lakers only had a mid-level exception to re-sign Bryant. Now, Bryant’s lasting memory as a Laker is him sealing off his man while looking for the ball as LeBron James made a fade-away jumper that made him the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Now Thomas Bryant, 25, gives the Nuggets a viable reserved big man. He will look to fit alongside two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter. The Nuggets are first in the Western Conference with a 38-18 record.
Bryant is averaging 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting a career-high 65.4% from the fielding, including 44% from three through 41 games his season.
