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Chase Ross Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Chase Ross to a training camp contract Friday, according to Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot, making official the Exhibit 10 agreement he reached in June. Ross averaged just 2.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists across four Summer League appearances but was far more productive at Marquette, posting 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 steals while earning Big East All-Defensive honors. With Arthur Kaluma, Chris Manon, and AK Okereke holding the Lakers' three two-way spots, Ross is likely headed for a developmental role with Coachella Valley, keeping him off the fantasy radar for now.
Source: Paul Garcia
Source: Paul Garcia
Meechie Johnson Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Meechie Johnson to a training camp contract Friday, according to Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot, with Law Murray of The Athletic reporting that it is an Exhibit 10 deal. The 23-year-old went undrafted after averaging 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 31.4 minutes across 32 starts for South Carolina. Johnson later averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 assists across five Summer League appearances with Miami. The Lakers own his G-League rights, making the Coachella Valley Lakers a realistic destination if he is waived. With Los Angeles already facing a roster crunch, Johnson is unlikely to see enough NBA minutes to carry fantasy value.
Source: Paul Garcia
Source: Paul Garcia
Anton Watson Returns to Lakers on Exhibit 10 Deal
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. The 25-year-old also went through camp with Los Angeles last year before being waived ahead of the regular season. Watson spent 2025-26 with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27.2 minutes across 50 games. Los Angeles already has 16 guaranteed contracts and all three two-way spots filled, leaving Watson with a difficult path to the NBA roster. Another stint with the Lakers' G League affiliate, now the Coachella Valley Lakers, looks more realistic and keeps him off the fantasy radar.
Source: Jovan Buha
Source: Jovan Buha
Ziaire Williams Eyes Starting Role with Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams believes he has a real chance to win the team's open starting spot, according to Ron Gutterman of LakersNation.com, who cited Williams' comments to Ryan Ward of Lakers On SI. Asked whether Jonathan Kuminga's move to Minnesota created a real opportunity in Los Angeles, Williams said, "Yeah, I do," though he added that the failed pursuit of Kuminga did not change his mindset. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler are expected to start when healthy, while Quentin Grimes appears likely to claim another spot, leaving Williams in a battle with Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Matisse Thybulle, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Williams averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes with Brooklyn last season, so the defensive role and steals upside are the clear fantasy hooks. He still needs JJ Redick to choose him before the watch-list case turns into draft-day value.
Source: Ron Gutterman
Source: Ron Gutterman
Walker Kessler Pegged as Worth the Lakers' Price
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (shoulder) cost a steep price, but Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor said his fit in Los Angeles could make the move worth it. The Lakers sent Utah two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round swaps before signing Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. The 7-foot-2 big man is fully cleared after left shoulder surgery limited him to five games in 2025-26, and that short sample drives the fantasy case: 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks on 70.3 percent shooting. Playing as Luka Doncic's primary rim-runner should keep the field-goal percentage elite and give Kessler a path to career-best scoring volume. The Lakers have Kevon Looney and other frontcourt depth behind him, but Kessler is the clear starter if the shoulder holds up.
Source: Kevin O'Connor
Source: Kevin O'Connor
Luka Doncic Healthy Heading Into Training Camp
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) is healthy heading into training camp after being cleared for full basketball activities in late May, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. A Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered on April 2 cost him the Lakers' final 15 regular-season games and their entire playoff run, which ended in the second round. The 27-year-old skipped Slovenia's FIBA World Cup qualifiers to spend time with his daughters and later hosted Lakers teammates for an August minicamp. Doncic averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals across 64 games last season, winning the scoring title. With LeBron James now in Philadelphia, more of the offense should flow through Doncic, while Walker Kessler gives him a true lob threat. Availability is the only real fantasy concern on an otherwise elite profile.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Walker Kessler Enters First Lakers Season Fully Healthy
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (shoulder) said the surgery that ended his 2025-26 season after five games was a long time coming, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "Actually, I injured it back in college," Kessler said. "And then I was playing with it for a while. And then last year, it got a little worse." The 25-year-old enters his first season in Los Angeles healthy after signing a four-year, $130 million deal. Kessler was off to a strong start before the torn labrum, averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks on 70.3 percent shooting. As Luka Doncic's preferred lob threat and rim protector, Kessler has a clean path to boards, blocks, and elite field-goal percentage if the shoulder holds up.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Lakers Hire Heat Executive Eric Amsler as Assistant GM
The Los Angeles Lakers are hiring Miami Heat vice president of player personnel Eric Amsler as an assistant general manager, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Amsler spent over 22 years in Miami, climbing from intern through scouting, personnel, and G-League roles before landing in Los Angeles. He joins Rohan Ramadas under president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka, who previously said one planned assistant GM hire would focus on pro scouting, draft scouting, and player development, while the other would handle cap, analytics, and data. The move does not change the fantasy depth chart by itself, but it is relevant for younger pieces such as Adou Thiero and first-round pick Cameron Carr. Thiero barely played as a rookie, averaging 6.0 minutes across 25 appearances, but he posted 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game in Summer League. Both are camp names to track as the Lakers sort through their wing and forward depth.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Collin Sexton Cites Winning in Lakers Free-Agent Decision
Los Angeles Lakers guard Collin Sexton said the chance to win and make an impact on a big stage drove his free-agent decision, according to ESPN LA. "I feel like I just fit right in," the former No. 8 pick said. Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million deal with a player option after averaging 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 26 games with Chicago last season while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from three. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still control the offense, leaving Sexton as a bench scorer whose fantasy value depends on minutes, efficiency, and whether his defensive stats hold.
Source: ESPN LA
Source: ESPN LA
Ziaire Williams Gets Defense-First Role with Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams told the Southern California News Group that JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka have framed his role around being a "main defender, point-of-attack defender." The former No. 10 overall pick joined Los Angeles on a one-year, $3 million deal in July after averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes for Brooklyn last season. Williams expects to cut, space the floor, and run in transition around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, which points to a low-usage role. Quentin Grimes projects ahead of him, while Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dalton Knecht crowd the wing and forward mix, leaving Williams as a steals-dependent fantasy flier unless his jumper holds.
Source: Benjamin Royer
Source: Benjamin Royer
Sandro Mamukelashvili Fills Stat Sheet for Georgia
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili filled the box score in Georgia's 101-74 rout of Montenegro on Friday in Group I of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 27-year-old finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals while playing behind bigger scoring nights from Tornike Shengelia and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze. The passing is the part that should carry over. Mamukelashvili averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 21.8 minutes with Toronto last season while shooting 38.9 percent from deep, and the Lakers gave him a four-year, $52 million deal to space the floor in a reworked frontcourt. Walker Kessler is the clear interior anchor, so Mamukelashvili needs a steady shooting role before becoming more than a low-end fantasy watch. Georgia faces Portugal on Monday.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Quentin Grimes Eyes Key Lakers Perimeter Role
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Quentin Grimes has a chance to fill the perimeter role Los Angeles needs after signing a four-year, $60 million deal, with Jovan Buha of Buha's Block and Tony Jones previewing his fit. The 26-year-old should be asked to defend tough perimeter matchups while spacing the floor around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a role that leans more on defense and off-ball shooting than shot creation. That keeps his fantasy ceiling in check, especially after he shot 33.4 percent from three with Philadelphia last season. Still, his 21.9-point surge after joining the 76ers in 2024-25 showed he can pop when touches open, leaving his value tied to minutes, steals, and whether the Lakers trust him in closing groups.
Source: Jovan Buha
Source: Jovan Buha
Jaden Hardy Being Discussed in Sign-and-Trade Talks
According to Evan Sidery, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly using guard Jaden Hardy in sign-and-trade discussions with the Atlanta Hawks. The two teams have been talking sign-and-trade this summer involving forward Jonathan Kuminga. It sounds like Lakers' guard Jaden Hardy or forward Jared Vanderbilt could be part of that deal, if it ever happens. It doesn't sound like the discussions got too far because the Hawks don't want to add payroll and actually need to make cuts with 17 players on their roster right now. A move elsewhere would probably help Hardy's fantasy value, but he's staying in Los Angeles right now.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Jeanie Buss Fights Siblings' Vote to Sell Lakers Stake
The Los Angeles Lakers' ownership transition has been thrown into question by a Buss family split, with Jeanie Buss contesting her siblings' vote to sell the family's remaining 17.8 percent stake to incoming majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the five other Buss siblings voted 5-0 to sell, while Jeanie's attorney says she intends to fight the move and argues any such sale would be void under a 2017 court order. The dispute still has no direct fantasy fallout. Unless the ownership drama leads to separate changes in basketball operations, the rotation and usage tree stay intact. Luka Doncic remains the Lakers' offensive anchor, and Austin Reaves' workload is unchanged.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Chris Paul Emerges as Lakers Front-Office Name to Watch
Recently retired guard Chris Paul has emerged as a name to watch for a possible off-court role with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Paul is close with Bob Iger, who has agreed to buy the Lakers alongside Josh Kushner in a record $12.5 billion deal that still needs NBA approval. Sportando also relayed ESPN's Dave McMenamin reporting that head coach JJ Redick has already agreed to a contract extension aligning his timeline with general manager Rob Pelinka. Nothing is formal with Paul, who retired in February after 21 seasons and ranks second all-time in assists and steals. For fantasy managers, this is a continuity note. Redick staying in place matters more than any Paul speculation, and neither development changes the Lakers' rotation or Luka Doncic's offensive role.
Source: Sportando
Source: Sportando
