5 Veteran free agents Mavericks could target with ties to LeBron James

3. Thomas Bryant

Bryant signed with the Lakers in the 2022 offseason only to be traded at the deadline in the deal that brought Mo Bamba to Los Angeles. The 6’10 big man produced some monster games, but his production was inconsistent. LeBron James had high praise for Bryant after he scored 29 points in a win over the Kings in early January.

"Thomas is taking full advantage of this opportunity. And he's a guy who plays extremely hard, knows how to play, and probably one of the most skilled bigs in this game. He catches everything. He finishes everything around the rim. But he also has a soft, soft touch from the mid-range and the 3-point line. And he's just has a motor and he's just a huge motor that there's just always going on both sides of the floor. I've always worked well with guys like that."

Bryant again becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, but would he have interest in reuniting with LeBron with Dallas? The 25-year-old struggles to protect the rim and cannot guard on the perimeter, but he can score, rebound, and stretch the floor. He would be a luxury to have as a backup big man on a minimum contract.

Bryant will certainly be looking for a new home this offseason after being traded to Denver, but not playing one second during the playoffs. The 25-year-old wants to get run, and he showed plenty when given an extended chance by the Lakers.

Will Dallas be his destination? The Mavericks have a clear need with both Dwight Powell and Christian Wood becoming unrestricted free agents. Thomas Bryant must improve his defense to get consistent minutes, but it is an option worth exploring this summer.