Lakers News: Front office evaluating ‘player options’ with final roster spot

With health bodies hard to come by in Los Angeles as of late, the Lakers’ front office is reportedly prepared to bring in outside talent to help close out the season.

After Saturday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, where the Lakers had only eight players at their disposal, sideline reporter Mike Trudell asked head coach Luke Walton if there was any plans to bring in reinforcements soon, to which Walton replied the following.

“There’s a chance Brandon [Ingram] can play,” Walton said. “We’re going to have Thomas Bryant, we’re going to have Gary Payton II with us from the G League, so we’ll have more bodies.

“I know the front office has been looking at different player options to fill in as well if Brandon’s still not ready.”

Trudell reported Sunday morning that Ingram “will likely be out” Monday when the Lakers take on the Detroit Pistons, along with Josh Hart and Isaiah Thomas, who is dealing with hip soreness. Even with Bryant and Payton expected to join the team, the Lakers would benefit from an extra player.

Three different Lakers played 40-plus minutes Saturday in Memphis as a result of their depleted guard and wing depth, including Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. Even with the regular season coming to a close, running with a Tom Thibodeau-esque eight-man rotation isn’t ideal.

We’ll find out tomorrow if Ingram will be available to play and if he’s not, when he’ll likely be back. If it’s no sooner than this week, expect the Lakers to sign someone to a 10-day contract.