2021-2022 Los Angeles Lakers roster: Where are they now?
Once upon a time before the 2020-21 season, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be “back”. The team had just added a former MVP point guard — who was supposed to be the franchise’s second-best point guard ever behind Magic — Russell Westbrook to what was supposed to be the most-dominant big 3 in the league.
On top of that, Carmelo Anthony was set to join his banana-boat buddy LeBron for what was supposed to be his first serious championship run. Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo came back to tinsel town to form what seemed like a reunion of basketball icons.
The 2021-2022 Lakers roster was filled with big names, but the names simply could not get things to fit within the bigger picture. The season actually went so badly, that many of those same names are still currently looking for work. With that in mind, let’s take a deeper look into the current situations of each member of the 2021-2022 Los Angeles Lakers:
Where each member of the 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers are now:
Players still seeking their next contract:
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony was never his former self during his time with the Lakers, but he came in and hit shots for a team that needed some offensive spunk off the bench. Unfortunately for Melo, his play last year in LA has not yet proved enough to garner another contract as he remains unsigned in free agency.
Trevor Ariza
Despite being 36 at the time he signed with the Lakers last summer, Ariza was expected to come in and provide stability as a veteran wing with a semi-solid track record from distance. He ended up having his worst season in the league and was subsequently waived in early April to open up playing time for some of the younger guys. The former Laker champion remains without a current team and appears on the verge of retirement.
D.J. Augustin
Augustin was brought in after the (silent) trade deadline last season and brought a smooth option to the point guard rotation for the second half of the season. He remains a free agent after fielding no offers during the offseason, and at age 35 he too may be heading toward retirement.
Kent Bazemore
Kent Bazemore just never really found his groove in his second stint with the Lakeshow. After an underwhelming season in LA was signed to a non-guaranteed contract with the Kings in the offseason but was cut prior to the start of the season. Similar to last January, Kent Bazemore is ready if needed.
Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley, a member of the 2019-2020 championship squad, was brought back to provide his usual defensive mischief last year. Throughout the year it just looked like he had lost a bit of a step, and the league as a whole took notice as evidenced by his ongoing free agency.
Chaundee Brown Jr
Despite being signed to a 2-way contract, Chaundee Brown Jr never really stuck in Los Angeles and was cut in late December 2021. He went on to sign a 10-day with Atlanta briefly last season but remains a free agent as we head into 2023.
Darren Collison
Darren Collison briefly came out of retirement to offer the team another option in their backcourt. He did not do much during his brief audition in LA, but not enough to warrant a guaranteed deal to finish out the season. He, similar to the previous seven fellas, is currently a free agent.
Wayne Ellington
Wayne Ellington shot 38% from 3 for the Lakers last season. That was, in essence, the extent of his contributions to the team. His shooting ability should get him another shot sooner or later, but to this point, that shot appears to be looking more down the later lane.
Jemerrio Jones
Some might not even recognize this name, but Jemerrio Jones has now been a member of the active Lakers roster on 2 separate (albeit brief) occasions. Through his hustle and grit, he exemplifies the type of stingy tough wing that teams could use despite his shooting ineffectiveness. He has bounced around the G League (most recently playing with the Lakeland Magic) but is currently a free agent.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo is a future Hall of Famer, there is no questioning that. But after a rough start to the 2021-2022 season, the Lakers sent him to Cleveland where he was more or less an assistant coach by the end of the year. He remains unsigned, and a shift to coaching seems like a viable option for the former Laker champ.
Isaiah Thomas
IT had a few nice moments during his 10-day experiences last season with the Lakers, but the team ended up moving on from him. He went on to sign with Charlotte, where he finished the year last season. Despite his continued belief in his ability to play in the NBA, Thomas remains unsigned to date.