After two games in the California Classic, the Lakers have already made their first real move with the young group they brought in for the summer.
The team announced it has signed AK Okereke, Peter Suder and Chris Manon to two-way contracts, giving all three a path to spend time with the Lakers next season. The trio is also on the Summer League roster, where they’ll keep trying to earn more trust in the final California Classic game and the stretch that follows in Las Vegas.
Among the three, Manon is the most familiar name to Lakers followers. The defensive-minded guard was already on a two-way deal with Los Angeles last season, though most of his work came with the South Bay Lakers in the G League.
He made that time count, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and landing on the G League All-Defensive Team. The Lakers are clearly betting that level of impact can carry over into another shot at one of their three two-way spots ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Okereke and Suder were quick additions after the 2026 NBA Draft wrapped. Okereke, who played at Vanderbilt, averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Suder built his reputation at Miami (Ohio) as a reliable shooter. He shot 42.1 percent from distance and 54.6 percent from the floor while putting up 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
The Lakers have already gotten a look at what some of their summer additions can do, and rookie Cameron Carr has been the headliner so far. He’s stood out through two games and is coming off a 26-point performance. But Okereke, Suder and Manon now have their own chance to make noise as the summer rolls on.
Last season, the Lakers used several players on two-way contracts. Manon was among them, while Drew Timme and Nick Smith Jr. logged the most minutes. Christian Koloko was waived in November, Timme took his spot, and Smith later had his deal converted into a standard contract so he could remain on the roster for the NBA playoffs.
For now, Okereke, Suder and Manon are the latest young names the Lakers are giving a real look. Whether that changes after Summer League or during the 2026-27 campaign remains to be seen.
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