The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best teams in the league at finding hidden gems and developing them into legitimate rotation players. Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso are the main examples of this, although there have been several other undrafted or late second-round picks that have worked out for Los Angeles.
Because of that, any time Los Angeles has a player in the G League that is playing well the fans take notice. The Lakers have built up enough of a track record for fans to expect G Leauge standouts to eventually blossom into NBA players.
But not all of the players blossom in Los Angeles. Players like Mac McClung end up finding their opportunity elsewhere. Bryce Hamilton is looking to become the latest player to blossom outside of LA as the Lakers shockingly waived the G League standout ahead of training camp.
ROSTER UPDATE: The Los Angeles Lakers requested waivers on guard Bryce Hamilton.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 18, 2023
Lakers waive Bryce Hamilton despite G League success
There is only so much room on the Los Angeles Lakers roster and Hamilton was going to struggle to earn a roster spot of any kind this season. There is only one more roster spot to utilize and if anyone in-house is going to get it it will be D’Moi Hodge.
That doesn’t mean that the Lakers couldn’t have at least kept Hamilton in the organization. Heck, if Hodge does end up getting his two-way contract converted to a standard NBA contract then the Lake Show could have utilized a two-way deal for Hamilton. The team obviously did not think he was worth it despite his strong play last season.
In 29 games for the South Bay Lakers, Hamilton averaged 14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. There is potential in Hamilton’s game.
Los Angeles originally signed Hamilton to an Exhibit 10 contract and didn’t even give him a chance to play in the preseason before waiving him. It will be interesting to see what his future holds and whether or not he will return to the South Bay Lakers or will take a chance elsewhere.
With the potential that he showed, it would be foolish for another NBA team to not take a chance on Hamilton. There are teams where the path to playing time is clearer and Hamilton has to do what is best for his career.
If he does leave, it will be the second standout from last season’s South Bay Lakers team that finds a new home as Los Angeles allowed floor-spacing center Jay Huff to sign a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets.