Lakers Signing Two New Free Agents to Bolster Depth

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jul 21, 2025 3:53 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are bringing in two new pieces to flesh out their roster ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

L.A.'s offseason to date has been lowlighted by its decision to let 3-and-D combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith depart for the rising Houston Rockets in free agency, but the Lakers have also made some solid under-the-radar signings.

L.A. team president Rob Pelinka has brought in former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to serve as the club's new starting center, has brought in stretch four Jake LaRavia for added frontcourt shooting optionality, and just recently inked former Defensive Player of the Year guard Marcus Smart to a two-year deal using the Lakers' bi-annual exception.

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Los Angeles intends to ink promising, defense-first young center Christian Koloko to his second two-way deal with the club, and will sign undrafted rookie free agent former Vanderbilt forward Chris Manon to fill another of L.A.'s open two-way slots.

As Charania notes, Manon had suited up for the Golden State Warriors' California and Las Vegas Summer League squads earlier this month.

The Los Angeles Lakers plan to sign 7-footer Christian Koloko and forward Chris Manon on two-way NBA contracts, sources tell ESPN. Manon, undrafted out of Vanderbilt, played for the Warriors in California and Las Vegas summer leagues. Koloko played 37 games for L.A. last season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2025

Charania adds that Koloko had other suitors this summer, but ultimately was compelled to re-sign with Los Angeles.

This is a continuation of the Lakers development plan with Koloko, who had other interested teams as well.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2025

Koloko is a seasoned NBA vet at this point. The 7-foot-1 Arizona product, 25, suited up for 37 games with L.A. in 2024-25, averaging 2.4 points on 60.6% field goal shooting and 71.4% free throw shooting, plus 2.5 boards and 0.4 blocks in 9.2 minutes per. In 10 regular season contests for L.A.'s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, Koloko averaged 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 1.8 dimes.

He was first drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2022 and appeared raw but intriguing that season, but was waylaid by a blood clot issue and eventually waived. After the NBA cleared his comeback, the Lakers snagged him on a two-way deal.

Manon, a 6-foot-5 wing, was a two-time All-Ivy Tourney honoree at Cornell before transferring to Vanderbilt for his 2024-25 senior season. There, he averaged 6.6 points on .533/.235/.783 shooting splits, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks a night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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