Which Tryout Hopeful Should the Los Angeles Lakers Sign?

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak will have an extra $1.5 million on his hands thanks to an injured player exception granted by the league on account of Julius Randle's broken leg.

Given the minimum-salary pedigree of most available free agents, however, he may not even have to use it. 

But after getting off to a 3-9 start this season, the organization has to explore its options, and at least five of those options were scheduled to work out for the team this week. How do they stack up with one another? Do any of them fit LA's needs?

We ranked all five according to who would best meet those needs.

It should be noted that Kupchak and Co. will have to waive someone to make room on the 15-man roster, which may mean Lakers fans should say their goodbyes to Xavier Henry. His days aren't officially numbered, but his recent struggles could be the writing on the wall.

5. Tyrus Thomas, Power Forward

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Tyrus Thomas deserves another chance with an NBA team.

Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy recently reported that the Lakers just might give him that chance, tweeting that he had a workout scheduled with the team for Thursday.

You almost have to be intrigued.

The 28-year-old was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers (with the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2006) before almost immediately being traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for LaMarcus Aldridge—a deal that's proved to be rather lopsided in retrospect.

His seven years with the Bulls and Charlotte Bobcats were uneven and mired by injury, but his career-best 2008-09 season created real reason for excitement. In just 27.5 minutes per contest, Thomas tallied 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and an especially impressive 1.9 blocks per game. 

The last two seasons in Charlotte, however, were far less encouraging.

To that end, Thomas remains something of a risk, and he may be better-suited for a team that's fully entrenched in a rebuilding process—perhaps the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic.

The other problem is that LA is pretty much set at the power forward spot, even with prized rookie Julius Randle sidelined for the season. Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis should have the job covered, and the Lakers would get more bang for their buck targeting a point guard or swingman.

4. Dwight Buycks, Guard

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Now about that point guard spot.

With Steve Nash's career likely over, the Lakers could use someone capable of running the offense. Behind starter Jeremy Lin, current options include journeyman Ronnie Price and rookie Jordan Clarkson. So solidifying backcourt depth reasons to be one of Kupchak's priorities at the moment.

Basketball Insiders' David Pick reported this week that "the Lakers [are] bringing in point guards Gal Mekel and Dwight Buycks for head-to-head workout [Thursday]."

Neither 6'3" floor general has an extensive NBA resume from which to draw inferences. In just 14 games with the Toronto Raptors last season, Buycks averaged 3.1 points in 10.4 minutes per game. That's not an especially telling a sample size. 

That gives you some idea of why Los Angeles is looking to get a firsthand look at the two prospects—particularly one allowing for some side-by-side comparison.

Besides a solid collegiate career at Indian Hills Community College and Marquette, Buycks has split time between Europe and the D-League since going undrafted in 2011. With Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez ahead of him in Toronto's rotation, the 25-year-old hasn't had much opportunity to showcase his ability in this league.

Signing with the Lakers may be a chance to change that.

If you're wondering why Buycks and Mekel don't come in first and second on this list, chalk it up to Kobe Bryant. The Lakers may not have a litany of point guards, but they still have one of the best playmakers in the game—and he likes to have the ball in his hands. Another point guard would be nice, but other needs may be even more pressing.

3. Gal Mekel, Point Guard

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While talking point guards, here's the one on the other side of this week's head-to-head workout with Dwight Buycks.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein confirmed that the organization is taking a closer look at Israeli floor general Gal Mekel. Though the 26-year-old only has one NBA season under his belt, he's been playing overseas since leaving Wichita State after his sophomore season in 2008.

He tallied 2.4 points and two assists per contest in 31 appearances with the Dallas Mavericks last season, but the club parted ways with him in late October in order to make room for former Mav J.J. Barea.

That decision shouldn't necessarily be interpreted as any kind of vote against Mekel, though.

"I have a lot of respect for Gal," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters at the time. "He is easily the most improved player in training camp, so he earned it. He busted his ass. We were completely transparent with everything that's going on."

Indeed, Mekel had shown promise during the preseason, averaging 7.6 points and 3.9 assists in 19.4 minutes per game.

"The future is very bright for Gal," added president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson. "He's got a big upside and is developing ahead of schedule. We wouldn't have even considered this move if it weren't for the unlikely scenario where a player of J.J.'s caliber was available."

So while Mekel is anything but a household name, he appears to be coming into his own. For all the reasons that Buycks might be a valuable asset behind Lin, Mekel may be an even savvier move. 

2. Quincy Miller, Forward

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Things didn't work out between Quincy Miller and the Denver Nuggets, the team that selected him in 2012 with the No. 38 overall draft pick.

The 22-year-old appeared in just 59 games during his first two seasons, averaging a modest 4.5 points in 13.8 minutes per contest. Failure to truly launch wasn't entirely his fault, though.

The Denver Post's Christopher Dempsey noted in October that the forward "spent a big chunk of his time with the Nuggets trying to get healthy."

"He tore his ACL during his senior year of high school and never was completely healthy during his only season in college, at Baylor," Dempsey added. "That extended into his stint with the Nuggets. Last season he said was the first time he'd felt fully healthy since before the injury."

Despite the occasional sign of upside, the athletic (and long) third-year veteran never carved out a niche in Denver's rotation. Though he may not find an abundance of playing time in Los Angeles initially, he could offer some short-term depth and long-term potential.

Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding recently suggested Miller would be an upgrade over at least one current Laker:

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No massive talent upgrade is coming, though if 6'9" forward Quincy Miller fares well in a tryout this week, expect to see him replace Xavier Henry on the team. Miller, who turns 22 on Tuesday and has rare upside despite no sense of how to reach it after two years with the Denver Nuggets, would at least give the Lakers a little more youth and hope in Julius Randle's absence. 

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Through limited minutes in just eight appearances this season, Henry is averaging 2.1 points per game and only making 25 percent of his field-goal attempts. The 23-year-old tallied 10 points per contest last season (in 43 games), but he hasn't found consistent minutes behind Kobe Bryant and Wesley Johnson this year.

Miller's size and defensive versatility would make him a more viable option off the bench, at least in theory. For a team that's struggled to get stops, that's the kind of weapon that coach Byron Scott and Co. could actually use. 

1. Jordan Hamilton, Guard/Forward

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Jordan Hamilton is arguably the most proven commodity on this list. And while that's not saying much, the Lakers could use someone who is ready to contribute from the outset. It's hard to justify long-term projects with Kobe Bryant's days numbered.

According to Basketball Insider's David Pick, Hamilton was set to work out for the Lakers this week. It's possible the organization views him as an alternative to Miller—another option to take Henry's spot in the rotation and, perhaps, on the roster.

The 24-year-old is coming off a career-best campaign after sparing usage during his first two seasons with the Denver Nuggets. He spent 21 games with the Houston Rockets last season but didn't stick.

For his career, Hamilton averages 5.8 points per game and makes 35.8 percent of his three-point attempts. The Texas product is a natural scorer and may very well blossom if given some steady playing time. He's had some growing pains through his first three seasons, but those appear to be behind him.

While Hamilton probably wouldn't challenge Nick Young for sixth-man minutes, he would figure to compete with Johnson and Clarkson for time on the wing. Thanks to his shooting range and aggressive approach, he could make an immediate impact for Los Angeles.

And the Lakers aren't in any position to wait.