Lakers agree to deal with former Grizzlies center

The Los Angeles Lakers are making a roster move after just four games.

On Wednesday, the Lakers waived two-way player AK Okereke. In turn, LA signed 7-foot center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract, according to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype. Okereke didn’t play in a game this season, and he went undrafted after playing his final college season at Vanderbilt.

Lovering is just 23 years old, and he played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes and Utah Utes before going undrafted in 2025. He began his career at Colorado before transferring to Utah.

Lovering played two games for the Memphis Grizzlies as a rookie, and he had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Feb. 20 game against the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers acquired star center Walker Kessler in a trade with the Utah Jazz this summer, but the backup center position has been a huge issue in four games for LA this season.

Former Golden State Warriors star Kevon Looney has been seeing minutes, but he has made a minimal impact so far.

Lovering will be back and forth between the G League team, the Coachella Valley Lakers, and the NBA team. He played in 11 games last season for the Memphis Hustle in the G League, averaging 5.7 points with 5.9 rebounds in just under 27 minutes per game.

LA has gotten off to a 3-1 start this season.