Lakers add a Shaq for the playoffs

OK, it's not the classic Shaq, who is too busy ducking a lawsuit to make an improbable return to the court. It's point guard Shaq Harrison, who played his only five games of this season for the Portland Trail Blazers, including a game Saturday.

Harrison spent most of this year playing for LA's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, before joining the Blazers on March 31 after injuries and an extended tanking effort decimated their roster. He did win Defensive Player of the Year in the G League last season and finished third this year. He provides backup for D'Angelo Russell, who has dealt with injuries to his foot, ankle and hip since joining the Lakers. But Harrison is also useful as a point-of-attack defender off the bench, especially with the Lakers on track to face Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies if they survive the play-in. 

Mini-Shaq also has playoff experience from playing for the Denver Nuggets in 2021. Harrison played limited minutes, periodically coming in to harass Damian Lillard on defense in the first round.

Tristan Thompson was a LeBron James teammate - and a Klutch Sports client - for four Finals appearances and one title in Cleveland. Thompson hasn't played in 2022-23 after splitting last season between Sacramento, Indiana and Chicago, but the Lakers have had success in the past by adding former James teammates.

J.R. Smith played limited minutes for the Lakers' title team in 2020, with the majority of his time coming in the first round. Dion Waiters, who the Cavaliers traded for Smith in 2015, also played 38 total minutes for the Lake Show. And while Danny Green never played with James, he did start his career in Cleveland.

Thompson is there to for big man depth, with Mo Bamba just returning from an ankle injury that cost him a month. He also increased the chances that a Kardashian attends Lakers playoff games, depending on how angry his ex-girlfriend is. Thompson wasn't on an NBA roster, but as recently as 2021 he was pulling down big offensive rebounds in the playoffs.

These moves are still primarily for insurance, but if they pay off, we may see the Lakers try to add more players with classic Lakers names next season. They could sign Coby White, bring Karim Mané out of the G League, get Alex "A.C." Caruso back from the Bulls or convince CP3 to drop the "L" from his last name and become Chris Pau.