
The Los Angeles Lakers recently made a roster move as they signed center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract , waiving forward AK Okereke to make room for the big man. The move makes sense as the Lakers are in need of some center depth behind Walker Kessler as veteran Kevon Looney has struggled early in the season.
Lovering is someone the Lakers could potentially develop into a reliable rotational big and should he be able to build on that potential, could be around the franchise for some time as the two-way deal he signed is for two years, via Keith Smith of Spotrac:
Lawson Lovering’s two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers is a two-year deal, a league source told @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 30, 2026
Lovering definitely has some intriguing tools and physical attributes at 7’1 and around 250 pounds. He brings legit size and a paint presence and has shown the ability to rebound the ball at a high rate and defend the rim as well.
Last season was spent mostly in the G League for Lovering with the Memphis Hustle. He appeared in 19 regular season games for the Hustle, averaging 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 59.8% from the field. He would also receive a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies where he would appear in two games. In one of those games, Lovering got the start for the Grizzlies and posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in a victory.
The backup center position is the biggest concern for the Lakers in this early season and the team is searching for answers. Head coach JJ Redick recently turned to veteran forward Jarred Vanderbilt, deciding to go with a small-ball lineup off the bench which will work in some situations, but a bigger body will still be needed in many instances and Lovering could potentially be an answer.
With playmakers like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers don’t need their centers to do much. A big body who can rebound the ball, set screens, finish in the paint and be a deterrent at the rim is all that is needed and Lovering will get the opportunity to prove he can provide that in small spurts.
With Josh Kushner and Bob Iger soon to be officially voted in as the new owners of the Lakers, they are reportedly shopping minority shares of the franchise to potential investors starting at $250 million.
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