Lakers News: 2 New LA Players Now Official, Status Finalized For Jazz Game

When will we see the new guys in the Purple and Gold?

Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that Tristan Thompson and Shaquille Harrison are both officially Lakers. It had been reported earlier today that they would be donning the Purple and Gold in time for the playoffs. Little-used reserve shooting guard Davon Reed has been cut to create roster space for the new duo.

As tends to be the case with new Lakers players, the starrier name will most likely have a lesser impact than the younger guy with more upside. The 32-year-old Thompson looked completely cooked as a reserve option for his last club, the Chicago Bulls, in 2021-22. 

Harrison (also a Bulls vet) actually addresses a legitimate need for LA, as a big, long point guard who can pressure opponents at the point of attack. If either of these two guys can make an impact on LA's actual playoff rotation this year, it's Harrison.

Per McMenamin, Thompson will don a No. 9 jersey for LA, a number formerly donned by two-time LA All-Star point guard Nick Van Exel and Matt Barnes, among others. Harrison will wear Russell Westbrook's old jersey number (no love lost there, obviously), No. 0.

Neither new Laker will be with the team in time for today's action against the Utah Jazz, which tips off at 12:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.

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