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Report: Lakers auditioning handful of interesting players this week

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Looking for help after a 2-9 start, the Los Angeles Lakers will work out a variety of players this week.

Though the Lakers don't have an open roster spot and would have to cut someone to add another player, it wouldn't be surprising given how the club's 15 players have performed thus far. Xavier Henry is thought to be on the chopping block, but it's the names auditioning that are of interest, not who could get cut.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Lakers are set to work out Gal Mekel, Dwight Buycks, Quincy Miller (see below), Tyrus Thomas and Jordan Hamilton.

On the surface, Mekel and Buycks would appear to have an edge, with the Lakers relatively thin at the point. Mekel, a 26-year-old who was cut by the Dallas Mavericks before the season, has 31 games of NBA experience, having averaged 2.4 points and two assists in 9.4 minutes. Buycks spent last season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 3.1 points in 10.4 minutes over 14 games.

The other names mentioned represent options at the forward positions and, while they may not fill a need, the upside appears to be higher there.

Miller, a second-round pick in 2012, could be molded into a versatile 6-9 wing, though he's shown little through two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. In 59 games, he's averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just 36.6 percent from the floor.

Hamilton was close to catching on with multiple teams this preseason, acquitting himself well with the Raptors and then being signed briefly by the Utah Jazz. A 6-foot-7 forward, Hamilton owns a 35.8 percent career mark from long range and has the tools to be a plus defender. He's averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 126 games, split between Denver and the Houston Rockets.

Most interesting among the names mentioned is Thomas, the No. 4 overall pick from the 2006 draft. Thomas was last seen in 2012-13 with the Charlotte Bobcats, who used the amnesty provision to clear him off their books. It doesn't appear as if Thomas has been playing since then, but the Lakers may want to see what the bouncy 6-9 forward has left in the tank at age 28.

In 400 games over seven seasons with Charlotte and the Chicago Bulls, Thomas averaged 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, but saw his production and efficiency dip off dramatically in his final two years.

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