The Lakers are going to need a lot of competent veteran role players willing to take pay cuts to play alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and potentially another max-level free agent. One of those players reportedly interested in joining the team is Minnesota Timberwolves free agent Taj Gibson.
Outside teams expected to have some level of interest in #Twolves FA Taj Gibson: Clippers… Nets… Bucks… Bulls… Warriors… Raptors… Blazers… Hornets… Lakers.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) June 29, 2019
I would take this report with a massive grain of salt, as the reported listed a third of the teams in the league as being interested in the veteran forward. Gibson would be a great addition to the team, but it’s unclear if the interest is mutual based off of the wording of the tweet.
Gibson averaged 10.8 points per game in the 2018-2019 season and hauled in 6.5 rebounds per contest. The former USC forward is entering his 11th season in the league and may not be as effective as he once was. His minutes per game decreased by nine from the previous season, but that was likely due to not being coached by Tom Thibodeau any more, a coach notorious for overplaying his team.
Gibson has remained healthy over the course of his career, with 62 games in the 2014-2015 season being the fewest in one season that he played. Twice in his career, he played in all 82 games, including 2017-2018.
The Lakers are going to need dependable forces in the locker room if they are going to compete for a title. Taj Gibson should be a player high on their list.
