“Bryant, O’Neal, and Pippen now on Lakers, LeBron got himself a squad” , “Baby Shaq”, “Finally solid f**king signing that makes sense” - LA Lakers fans get excited as team agrees deal with free agent Thomas Bryant

Thomas Bryant will return to play for the LA Lakers on a one-year deal. [Photo: Democrat and Chronicle]

Thomas Bryant has agreed to return to the LA Lakers on a one-year contract. The 24-year-old big man played his rookie season in Hollywood but turned out for the Washington Wizards the last four years.

Immediately after the news broke, basketball fans had their say on the Lakers’ most recent free-agent signing. One user wrote:

"Bryant, O’Neal, and Pippen now on the Lakers. LeBron got himself a squad."

Another tweeted:

"Finally a solid f**king signing that actually makes sense. A stretch 5."

Here are some of the best reactions to the news of Bryant's signing:

Bryant, O’Neal, and Pippen now on the Lakers.

LeBron got himself a squad. https://t.co/BaOiwBVMRK

@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes BABY SHAQ

@ChrisBHaynes @YahooSports Finally a solid fucking signing that actually makes sense. A stretch 5.

@BleacherReport @ChrisBHaynes W Lakers are the title favourites now

Following Bryant's signing, it's pertinent to note that LeBron James could potentially line up alongside three of the most famous names in basketball history in Pippen (Scotty Pippen Jr), Bryant (Thomas Bryant) and O'Neal (Shareef O’Neal).

Thomas Bryant was the 42nd pick in the 2017 draft and had a very underwhelming rookie season with the Lakers. He was a Laker for only 15 games, averaging 1.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists.

He was, however, a solid performer when healthy in Washington. The Wizards looked like a young and exciting team partly because they had Bryant on the roster. He averaged 11.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 155 games for the Wizards.

It’s like deja vu lol 💪🏾

He made 36% of his 3-point shots in four years with the Wizards.

That number is significantly better than what Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson, Russell Westbrook and Talen-Horton Tucker managed for the Lakers last season.

At the Lakers, Bryant is expected to be the primary backup to Anthony Davis. AD’s 3-point shooting last season plummeted to a dismal 18.6%. As such, Bryant’s outside shooting will be useful to the Lakers.

LeBron James averages 32-10-11 while starting at CENTER for his career.. unmatched versatility

Thomas Bryant could be crucial to the LA Lakers’ success

Thomas Bryant is Anthony Davis' expected backup. [Photo: Lake Show Life]

Thomas Bryant will provide much more spark than Dwight Howard, Wenyen Gabriel and DeAndre Jordan brought last season. Howard, Gabriel, and Jordan combined to average just 5.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Jordan was waived halfway into the season and Howard was kept on the bench, which provided the opportunity for Gabriel to play. The center position was so problematic that LeBron James, at 37, often had to do the dirty job of protecting the paint even when he was not the starting center.

Thomas Bryant has agreed to a one-year deal with the Lakers, per @ChrisBHaynes https://t.co/rY9Jx8WTtf

Anthony Davis is arguably one of the top five players in the NBA when healthy. But as he has played only 138 games in three years, Thomas Bryant could prove to be the Lakers’ biggest signing of the offseason.