The Lakers have added another body to a frontcourt that badly needed one.
Los Angeles signed Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. More than a day later, the specifics came into focus: Keith Smith of Spotrac reported that Lovering’s two-way deal runs for two years.
To make room, the Lakers had to move on from one of their three two-way players, and forward AK Okereke was the odd man out.
The addition comes at a time when the Lakers are looking for help behind Walker Kessler. Kevon Looney has not given them the impact they were hoping for early in the season, leaving the team in need of a dependable backup center.
Lovering, 23, is a 7-foot center from Wyoming who played college ball at Colorado and Utah. He went undrafted after the 2025 season, then hooked on with the Memphis Grizzlies’ G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
His time there gave Memphis a glimpse of what he can do. In 13 games with the Hustle, Lovering put up 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds. Over 30-plus games with the team, he averaged 7.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.7 steals in 26.8 minutes per game.
Lovering also got a brief NBA look with Memphis. In February 2026, he signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies and appeared in two games, averaging 7.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks.
Before this season began, he had already re-upped with Memphis on an Exhibit 10 deal. A month later, he’s headed to Los Angeles.
For now, Lovering will begin with the Coachella Valley Lakers, the team’s G League affiliate. But with the Lakers’ backup-center situation still unsettled, it would not be a surprise if he gets the call to the NBA club before long.
Two-way contracts can run for as long as two years, but they can’t include options, extensions or signing bonuses. Players on those deals can be active for up to 50 regular-season NBA games per season, and if Lovering stays in that arrangement all year, he would not be eligible for the playoffs.
In Other News...
Lakers Sale Suddenly Faces One Huge Question Behind The Scenes
The Lakers proposed sale has been moving through the usual swirl of speculation, but a new wrinkle has shifted the focus from family control to financing. Bill Simmons said on his podcast that Josh Kushner is reportedly still trying to raise $5 billion to $6 billion to complete the purchase, and he also suggested that Bob Iger is only contributing a minimal amount to the effort.
If that is the real holdup, it changes the feel of the delay entirely. The Buss family ownership issue has been the headline for weeks, but Simmons comments point to a more basic question behind the scenes: whether the money is actually lined up to finish a deal of this size. None of it confirms where the transaction stands, but it does add another layer of uncertainty to a sale that already has plenty of it. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Is Already Testing The Lakers' Title Ceiling
Walker Kessler has wasted little time making his presence felt in Los Angeles, giving the Lakers exactly the kind of interior impact they hoped to add when they brought in the former first-round pick. Through the teams first three games, the center has already shown he can affect both ends of the floor, giving the Lakers a sturdier defensive backbone while also providing useful offense around the rim.
For a player who missed much of the 2025-2026 season after shoulder surgery, the quick adjustment matters even more. The Lakers have been searching for pieces that can hold up in a playoff setting, and Kesslers early play hints at a bigger role than just rotation depth, with his fit and consistency now becoming part of the larger title conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Win Is Fueling A Bigger Rotation Debate Without Luka
The Lakers 103-87 win over the Clippers came without Luka Doncic, but it still offered a useful look at how JJ Redick wants this roster to function when the lineup gets thin. Redick singled out the pairing of Jarred Vanderbilt and Sandro Mamukelashvili as an effective combination, and Collin Sexton also drew praise for the impact he made in the game. With early injuries already forcing the team to adjust, that kind of production from different spots in the rotation matters.
What makes the win more interesting is the way it feeds into a larger conversation about how the Lakers can keep building cohesion while shorthanded. The group has reason to feel optimistic about its potential, but games like this also create questions about which lineups deserve more run once everyone is available. For a team trying to sort out roles early, the answer may not be simple. [Read more 🡒]