The Memphis Grizzlies have a mass exodus coming. Sitting at 19 out of a possible 15 players for opening night, the Grizzlies have to shake loose at least four of those guys. Jake Fischer has already hinted at who the early frontrunners to hit the open market are.
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell has been identified as 'the most likely vet' to be cut. Beyond getting rid of the 30-year-old, there are also a handful of young players who Fischer described as candidates to be waived. That included Micah Peavy, Jordan Hawkins, Kris Murray, and Walter Clayton Jr.
Those are guys who would be eligible for a two-way deal in Los Angeles, should the Lakers find one of them intriguing. That brings us to AK Okereke. Someone would need to be released from their two-way contract to make room for one of those players. Okereke stands out as the most likely candidate.
AK Okereke would likely be released if the Lakers want a new two-way player
Okereke was just signed to a two-way contract this summer after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. The lack of familiarity would be expected to work against him here.
Chris Mañon and Arthur Kaluma occupy the other two-way spots for the Lakers at present. The franchise has a better understanding of what they have in both cases.
Mañon was brought in after a strong Summer League campaign with the Golden State Warriors in 2025. The young guard has flashed within the developmental system as a talented defender, and has even given glimpses of figuring out his offensive game.
Kaluma spent the 2025-26 season with the South Bay Lakers before securing his two-way deal following red-hot perimeter shooting at this year's Summer League. Much like Mañon, the Lakers forward has just given the franchise more to evaluate in a positive light.
Okereke, by contrast, has not had the same opportunities to shine based on the timing of his arrival. The college tape is his biggest reference point. That would position him to be the odd man out if one of those soon-to-be released Grizzlies players stands out as a better long-term gamble.
Grizzlies' cut candidates are far from dismissable targets
Any of the young guys who the Grizzlies are due to release offer some form of genuine intrigue. This situation has less to do with them being bad prospects, and more to do with Memphis being loaded with more interesting options.
Each of those players have flaws, yes. If they did not, they would be nowhere near the open market. However, all of Peavy, Hawkins, Murray, and Clayton should find a new home in the event of their release. The Lakers could have a spot for at least one of them.
That would bring everything back to Okereke. The Lakers are already working to trim the main roster from 16 to 15. Given the two-way eligibility of those players, the path of least resistance toward adding them would be to clear up one of those spots for an incoming guy.
Okereke could end up in the crosshairs as a result. Being a recent undrafted free agent stacked up against some of those talents does not bode well for him.
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