Rob Pelinka, Lakers
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President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on before an NBA game.
With the NBA trade deadline now behind them, the Los Angeles Lakers have shifted focus to the buyout market as they evaluate how best to use their one open roster spot.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, one unexpected name has surfaced alongside more familiar targets.
Former Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is “another more polarizing option,” Woike reported Friday.
Woike had previously identified Thomas’ former Nets teammate, Haywood Highsmith, as “a player of interest” for Los Angeles, “provided his knee issues are resolved.” Both players would come at minimal financial cost, preserving the Lakers’ projected $55 million in offseason cap space, but they offer very different skill sets.
Cam Thomas Brings Scoring—and Questions
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas
GettyCam Thomas has emerged as a polarizing buyout option for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thomas, 24, has become one of the league’s most divisive offensive talents.
An elite three-level scorer, the former LSU standout has produced eye-catching nights throughout his four-plus seasons in Brooklyn, including nine 40-point games. Yet his role has remained narrowly defined, and his market never fully developed.
Across his Nets tenure, Thomas averaged 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, numbers that underscore his scoring ability but also highlight his limited playmaking impact. Last offseason, he signed a modest $5.9 million qualifying offer, effectively betting on himself — a gamble that did not yield trade interest.
New York Post reporter Brian Lewis painted a bleak assessment of Thomas’ Brooklyn run.
“Thomas’ poor playmaking, worse defense and injury history combined to end his time with the Nets,” Lewis wrote.
Before he was waived, Thomas averaged 15.6 points in 24 games, including eight starts, after missing 20 games with a left hamstring strain.
The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov noted that Thomas “has always been a divisive player among opposing scouts and league executives.”
“He is a high-usage guard and a talented scorer who can turn it on in a pinch,” Vorkunov wrote. “But he has struggled defensively, and the Nets have been better with him on the floor than off in just one season throughout his career.”
Lewis echoed that sentiment, noting “the Nets went 4–19 when Thomas played legitimate minutes, compared to 9–17 when he did not.”
Still, Thomas’ scoring punch could address a glaring weakness for Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ bench is averaging 28.0 points per game, the lowest mark in the NBA, making Thomas an intriguing — if imperfect — solution for second-unit offense.
Highsmith Offers Defense, Versatility if Healthy
haywood highsmith
GettyFormer Heat forward Haywood Highsmith offers defense and versatility to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Highsmith presents a stark contrast.
The 29-year-old forward is valued not for shot creation, but for defense, versatility, and lineup flexibility — areas the Lakers have consistently sought to improve.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Highsmith had been on track to make his season debut Feb. 11 following recovery from knee surgery.
“Highsmith’s healthy, is playing 5-on-5 and was set to make his season debut February 11th following meniscus surgery,” Scotto reported, citing agent Jerry Dianis.
Highsmith underwent surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and was traded from the Miami Heat to Brooklyn shortly thereafter. Despite steady progress, he never appeared in a game for the Nets.
Before the injury, Highsmith carved out a meaningful role in Miami.
Last season, he appeared in 74 games, started 42, and averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24.6 minutes per game while shooting 38 percent from three-point range.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once described Highsmith as “a great defender, Swiss Army Knife guy, winning player.”
That versatility — paired with a seven-foot wingspan — directly addresses one of the Lakers’ most persistent issues: consistent wing defense against elite scorers.
Lakers’ Decision Balances Need and Philosophy
The contrast between Thomas and Highsmith underscores the Lakers’ dilemma.
Thomas offers instant offense for a bench unit starved for scoring. Highsmith offers defensive reliability and lineup balance. Neither would compromise Los Angeles’ long-term financial flexibility, a key priority as the front office looks toward the offseason.
With the buyout market still taking shape, the Lakers appear content to wait — weighing upside against fit — before committing their final roster spot.
For a team straddling present contention and future optionality, the choice between scoring punch and defensive stability could define how far the Lakers can go this spring.