The Los Angeles Lakers currently have one unused roster spot and it appears that it will stay that way for the time being. A potential Kyrie Irving trade still needs to work its way out as the Lakers can then later evaluate what to do with the 15th roster spot.
While the Lakers could get more players in return than they trade in a potential Kyrie deal, that 15th roster spot should probably be used in-house. If there is anyone who earned a standard contract with the team it is undrafted free agent Cole Swider.
Swider signed a two-way contract with the Lakers and was the biggest standout of the Summer League. The 41.1% college three-point shooter was the best shooter in all of Las Vegas, proving that he could add something to the Lakers’ rotation that is currently lacking.
Los Angeles is going to wait to make anything official but the team is seemingly already paving the way to convert Swider to a standard contract. Rob Pelinka and co. have done so by signing standout big man Jay Huff to an exhibit-10 contract.
OFFICIAL: The Lakers have signed Jay Huff to an exhibit-10 contract pic.twitter.com/Mn5y3YcMac
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 27, 2022
How Jay Huff’s contract paves the way for Cole Swider to join the Lakers:
An exhibit-10 contract allows a player to play the preseason with a team and it can later be converted to a two-way contract. If the team does not convert the two-way contract, said player gets a bonus if he is sent back to the G League affiliate of the team.
This gives the team more flexibility with Huff when the season begins. By signing this contract now, LA is making it possible to convert Huff to a two-way deal. The two players currently on two-way deals with the team are Swider and Scotty Pippen Jr.
As promising as Pippen is as an undrafted free agent, he needs time to refine his game and can do so in South Bay. Swider is older, is farther along in his development and directly adds something to the roster that is currently lacking.
If the Lakers are going to take one of the two-way contracts and convert it to a standard contract is going to be Swider’s. Perhaps all the former Syracuse player has to do is continue the strong play in the preseason and he will get that contract from the team.
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It is not a guarantee, but Huff’s new contract makes it obvious that the team is thinking ahead and is likely going to reward Swider for his strong play.