LA Lakers’ NBA Summer League star Cole Swider set to agree deal to sign with new team

Cole Swider signs with Anadolu Efes

It didn’t take long for Swider to earn praise from Laker Nation, thanks to his ability to score well on the court. However, Swider’s defense or lack of it, was a major concern for some fans.

It seems that the Purple and Gold had similar thoughts on Swider, as they allowed him to walk. Well, Swider did find a team, but it’s not in the NBA.

“Sharpshooter Cole Swider is nearing a deal with Anadolu Efes in Turkiye,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote on X.

He added: “After stints with the Lakers, Heat, Pistons, and Raptors, Swider is poised to join the growing number of NBAers moving to the EuroLeague and play for ex-Suns coach Igor Kokoskov.”

While playing in the NBA must have been a dream for Swider, it’s understandable why teams refrained from providing him a permanent role.

Cole Swider’s age and poor stats in limited minutes may have led to his NBA exit

Sure, Swider has improved a lot since going undrafted in 2022. He has put in an insane amount of work to improve his game in the G League.

As a result, Swider has become an incredible scorer, at least in the G League. Unfortunately, time after time, Swider has failed to carry over that form to the NBA.

After all, in 35 NBA games for four different teams, Swider has averaged just 3.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game.

Another key factor likely holding him back is his age. Swider is already 26 years old, and it’s unlikely an NBA team will utilize its resources on an unproven aging forward.