Lakers Rumors: Joel Berry II signed for training camp

As the Los Angeles Lakers are filling out their roster for training camp in September, the most recent prospect signing is Joel Berry II out of the University of North Carolina

Los Angeles Lakers rumors haven’t stopped despite most of their work being done in free agency. The Los Angeles Lakers training camp begins in September, and they are beginning to fill up their 20-man roster.

Expect a number of signings leading up to camp as the Lake Show look to add depth to their bench. The most recent of those signings is Joel Berry II, the undrafted guard out of UNC.

After not hearing his name called in the 2018 NBA Draft, Berry II was added to the Lakers’ Summer League team. However, he did not play a single game due to a nagging ankle injury. Despite that, the team took a chance and signed him to a deal–the details of which are unknown.

Berry was a four-year player at North Carolina and was the 2017 Final Four Most Outstanding Player; inevitably leading the Tar Heels to the National Championship. As a senior last season, he earned First Team All-ACC honors with averages of 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 33.1 minutes per game.

Based on the nature of his signing, it is assumed that Berry’s contract is only partially guaranteed. He will likely spend a majority of his time playing for Los Angeles’s G-League affiliate the South Bay Lakers. Whether or not his contract is one or two-way has not been announced per team policy.

However, it is also entirely possible that the Lakers have signed Berry to an Exhibit 10 deal, which would allow them to convert his non or partially guaranteed contract into a two-way contract at some point during the season.

Either way, he probably will not see much floor time in a Lakers’ uniform. With a backcourt solidified by the pairing of Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo, plus the addition of LeBron James who runs point in some sets, minutes are limited.

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The signing bolsters the Lakers’ bench, which is crucial in a league that is spearheaded by the second unit. However, he may possibly be cut during Lakers’ training camp as they weed their roster down to 15.