Lakers to Bring In Meyers Leonard for Audition

The Lakers intend to work out free agent center Meyers Leonard on Friday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

This follows a report from Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report saying that center DeMarcus Cousins also will be in LA for a workout on Friday. (Full post.)

Leonard, 30, is 7-foot-0 and last played in the NBA in the 2020-21 season, when appeared in three games with the Heat. He played 51 games with Miami the year before that, averaging career-highs of 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Originally drafted by the Trail Blazers with the No. 11 overall pick in 2012, Leonard spent seven seasons in Portland before being sent to the Heat as part of the multi-team Jimmy Butler deal.

He was traded by the Heat to the Thunder for forward Trevor Ariza in March 2021, then immediately waived.

The Lakers are looking for veteran frontline help to take some of the pressure off LeBron James and Anthony Davis (when healthy).