The Los Angeles Lakers added two familiar names to their roster mix on Sunday night, signing former Syracuse players Cole Swider and William Kyle III ahead of training camp.
Both players landed Exhibit 10 deals, according to multiple reports. The Lakers announced the moves Sunday night and also posted that they had signed forwards William Kyle III and Cole Swider.
Kyle arrived at Syracuse last season after transferring from UCLA, and he made his mark in a hurry. The 6-foot-9 center averaged 8.1 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Orange, but his biggest value showed up around the rim. He blocked 81 shots, a 2.5-per-game average that led Syracuse and highlighted the kind of defensive presence he brought to the floor.
He went undrafted last June, then caught on with the Lakers on an Exhibit 10 deal and later played for the club in NBA Summer League.
Swider’s Syracuse stop was also a one-year run, after he transferred in from Villanova. During the 2021-22 season, he put up 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
His first NBA opportunity came with Los Angeles on a two-way deal, and he split the 2022-23 season between the Lakers and South Bay Lakers. Over the following two seasons, Swider spent time with Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami and Toronto, as well as their G-League teams.
Last year, he played overseas with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Super League, where he averaged 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds.
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Kyle brings a reputation built on defense after appearing in 131 college games, while Swider arrived in Syracuse as a scoring threat and averaged 13.9 points per game in his lone season there. Both are trying to earn a place on the Lakers roster, though the G-League is also part of the picture, and the next few weeks will determine whether this turns into a camp storyline or something a little more substantial. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Put Itself In Position For An Early QB Recruiting Win
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Watkins already has the kind of early experience that tends to grab attention, having started as a freshman for a Belmont Charter team that finished 10-2 in 2025. For Syracuse, the pitch is simple: identify talent early, make the relationship count, and see whether the Orange can turn a camp visit into a head start in the recruiting race. [Read more 🡒]