While some fans are worried about what the Los Angeles Lakers will do, as they currently are one player over the NBA's roster limit, just be grateful they aren’t in the Memphis Grizzlies shoes. The Grizzlies have a horrible roster crunch ahead of them, as they’ll be forced to part with four players ahead of the start of the regular season.
NBA insider Jake Fischer provided some insight on who Memphis could be looking to waive. He listed Walter Clayton Jr., Micah Peavy, D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Hawkins, and Kris Murray.
For the Lakers, Micah Peavy should interest them as an elite perimeter defender and a menace from the point of attack. If the Grizzlies opt to make Peavy one of the four players they waive, LA should immediately cut ties with AK Okereke and offer his two-way spot to Peavy.
The 25-year-old was drafted fourth overall in 2025 by the New Orleans Pelicans out of Georgetown and had a solid rookie season. New Orleans parting with him came as a shock to many, as he projects to develop into a high-level connective piece in the NBA. If the Lakers could land him, they should.
As a former second-round pick, Peavy accepting a two-way deal, especially with a franchise that has the pedigree the Lakers have, wouldn’t be shocking.
Micah Peavy is a swing the Lakers can afford to make
In his rookie season, Peavy averaged 4.3 points per game and shot 38.5 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from deep. At face value, those numbers may have you questioning my credibility, but hear me out.
Peavy played 61 games last season, and the main reason he saw that much action was because he can really guard. He has fluid hips, elite anticipation in passing lanes, is switchable 1 through 4 in most situations, and has a strong frame that allows him to wall up opposing offensive players.
He has quick feet and has an argument for being New Orleans' best perimeter stopper last season. That is, outside of Herb Jones, of course.
The Lakers could always use more elite defenders. Peavy could offer an opportunity to land one at a cheap cost.
There wouldn’t be a need to throw him into the fire from day one, and he could spend a ton of time developing his offensive game in the G League. Peavy showed encouraging offensive signs in summer league, averaging 12.5 points per game. More importantly, he shot 50 percent from triple.
The Coachella Valley Lakers could be a great place for Peavy to build on his strong summer league and continue to grow into a key connective piece on offense.
His offensive game would thrive, like most players, in a scenario where he played off Luka Doncic. Even though Peavy was the biggest name on the Pelicans' summer league team, he wasn’t ball dominant and generated most of his offense through opportunities created by his own off-ball movement.
He thrives as a cutter and someone who comes off screens. Those are two things that could thrive long-term next to Luka.
If Peavy ends up being someone the Grizzlies cut ties with because of roster overflow, the Lakers need to take a look. Getting him on a two-way deal this season would give them a developmental project who has already shown he’s an NBA-level defender and can become a real impact piece on offense.
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