Los Angeles added 7‑foot center Lawson Lovering on a two‑way contract while cutting forward AK Okereke to clear a spot on the roster.
Key points
- Los Angeles signed Lawson Lovering to a two‑way contract and waived AK Okereke to free a roster spot.
- Lovering brings recent G League production and limited NBA exposure, while Okereke had not appeared in an NBA game.
- Both players entered the league as undrafted prospects, highlighting the Lakers’ focus on low‑cost developmental talent.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced a two‑way contract with 23‑year‑old center Lawson Lovering, according to a report from Hoops Rumors, and simultaneously waived forward AK Okereke to accommodate the new signing.
Lovering, who was released by the Memphis Grizzlies after a training‑camp deal in late September, spent the 2025‑26 season with the G League’s Memphis Hustle. In 30 games he averaged 7.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26.8 minutes, and he appeared in two NBA games for the Grizzlies on a 10‑day contract in February.
Lovering joins Lakers on two-way deal
The Utah‑product entered the professional ranks undrafted last year and has yet to secure a standard NBA contract. The two‑way deal will allow him to split time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, giving the club a defensive presence at the center position.
Okereke, a 6‑foot‑7 wing who went undrafted in July, signed his own two‑way contract with Los Angeles in July but never made his NBA debut before being released. He played one season at Vanderbilt after three years at Cornell, posting 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 36 games while shooting 48.1% from the floor and 40% from three‑point range.
Okereke released to make roster space
The roster move reflects the Lakers’ ongoing effort to reshape their bench depth ahead of the upcoming season, adding a young big man with recent G League experience while parting ways with a player who had not yet broken into the NBA lineup.
Reader questions
What is a two‑way contract in the NBA?
A two‑way contract allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate, with a limited number of days allowed on the NBA roster.
How many NBA games has Lawson Lovering played?
Lovering appeared in two NBA games for the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10‑day contract in February 2026.
Why did the Lakers waive AK Okereke?
The team needed to clear a roster spot for the newly signed two‑way player Lawson Lovering; Okereke had not yet made his NBA debut.
Source: hoopsrumors.com
