Following Luka Doncic’s arrival, the Los Angeles Lakers have transformed into a championship-contending team. Currently sitting as the third seed in the NBA Western Conference, the team is now looking to finalize its roster for the postseason. Reports suggest the front office is considering waiving two players to solidify their playoff rotation.
After the departures of Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Mavericks, the Lakers found themselves thin at center and point guard. To address this, head coach JJ Redick relied on two-way players such as Jordan Goodwin, Trey Jemison, and Christian Koloko. All three have performed admirably, with Goodwin emerging as a key piece in the rotation.
The Lakers can convert their two-way players to standard contracts to make them playoff-eligible. However, this would require clearing roster spots. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Goodwin and one of the big men are likely to be promoted, with Cam Reddish and Alex Len as the primary candidates to be waived.
“There’s a chance [of all three two-way guys being converted], but realistically, it’s probably not gonna happen just because I think that the only two obvious players to cut on the roster are Cam Reddish and Alex Len,” Buha explained.
“I think the roster is going to remain the same outside of potentially waiving Len and Reddish, and again, they have to waive one of them for Jordan Goodwin,” he continued. “I think they should waive another one for [Trey] Jemison or [Christian] Koloko, so it’s probably going to be two, not three”.
Austin Reaves praises Goodwin’s impact
For Austin Reaves, it’s puzzling that Goodwin hasn’t secured a standard NBA contract. “He’s been on a standard contract, and he’s been on a two-way [contract]. Back and forth, the G League and then us,” Reaves said.
“I think it was that first game that we played Indiana, he had a hell of a game, and I just told him, ‘I don’t know how out of 30 teams you’re not on a regular contract,’” he continued. “[It’s] the way that he can affect the game without having the ball in his hands”.