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Sandro Mamukelashvili Questionable Against Portland
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (illness) is questionable for Friday's NBA Cup game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The 27-year-old has played in all nine games this season, averaging 9.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists off the bench. He is coming off a quiet two-point effort against Sacramento but scored a season-high 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting in his first meeting with Portland. If Mamukelashvili sits, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia could see a little more run, while Adou Thiero is also available to make his season debut.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jake LaRavia Joins Lakers' Starting Lineup Wednesday
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia will start Wednesday against the Clippers, with Ziaire Williams (foot) and Luka Doncic (back) both unavailable. LaRavia came off the bench in each of his first three appearances this season, averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 steals in 17.3 minutes. He has plenty of starting experience after making 43 starts last season, when he averaged 8.2 points and 1.3 steals across 82 games. The move should give LaRavia a bump in minutes Wednesday, though his fantasy appeal is likely tied to how long the Lakers remain shorthanded.
Source: Law Murray
Source: Law Murray
Jake LaRavia Questionable for Friday's Matchup With Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (ankle) is listed as questionable for Friday's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. LaRavia sprained his right ankle during Wednesday's win over the Warriors, finishing with 10 points, two assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 18 minutes before exiting. If the 24-year-old is unable to suit up Friday, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, and Ziaire Williams could see additional playing time, potentially boosting their short-term fantasy value.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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
Jonathan Kuminga Draws Lakers Sign-and-Trade Push
Free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga has been linked to a Lakers sign-and-trade framework that would send Jarred Vanderbilt and draft capital to the Atlanta Hawks, according to Evan Sidery. Kuminga, whom the Hawks acquired from Golden State at the deadline before declining his team option, may need to lower his reported $20-million-plus annual ask if the market does not materialize. The former Warriors forward averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 2025-26. A move to Los Angeles could give him a real frontcourt role alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, though his usage would be capped behind two high-usage guards. Vanderbilt would add defense and rebounding in Atlanta if moved, but his limited offense keeps his fantasy value thin.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Lakers Shopping Jarred Vanderbilt
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is being shopped as a salary-matching piece, with the Lakers looking for a third team to absorb his and Dalton Knecht's contracts to unlock a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, per Evan Sidery. Vanderbilt is owed $12.4 million next season and holds a $13.3 million player option for 2027-28, making him difficult to route directly to Atlanta in a Kuminga framework. For fantasy, the takeaway is bleak either way. Vanderbilt is an elite defender but an offensive non-factor, averaging 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steals on 29.3 percent three-point shooting last season, and durability has long been a concern. He holds no standard-league value. A move to a rebuilder could give him minutes and deep-league steals-and-boards utility, but on the Lakers, he remains a specialist off the fantasy radar.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Arthur Kaluma Earns Two-Way Deal From Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing forward Arthur Kaluma to a two-way contract, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The 24-year-old just finished an impressive Summer League stint, averaging 18.6 points on 61.0 percent efficiency in Las Vegas. Kaluma made 50.0 percent of his three-point attempts. After going undrafted, Kaluma started his pro career last season with the South Bay Lakers. He notched 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in the G League. It's likely Kaluma will also spend most of the upcoming campaign in the minors.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Lakers Expressing Interest in Jonathan Kuminga
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in bringing in forward Jonathan Kuminga this summer. Kuminga is currently an unrestricted free agent after declining a $24.3 million team option from the Atlanta Hawks. The speculation is that Kuminga is seeking a deal around $20-25 million per season. This might be too rich for the Lakers, but it sounds like the organization is still interested in doing a sign-and-trade. They've signed Ziaire Williams as depth, but they'd still like to add another wing to the mix. It's tough to imagine Kuminga having a ton of scoring chances in an offense surrounded by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Adou Thiero Leads Lakers With 20 Points Against Thunder
Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero finished with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks across 30 minutes in Friday's 96-84 Summer League win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The second-year wing returned to the lineup after missing Monday's California Classic finale and gave Los Angeles a strong two-way performance. Thiero shot 8-for-14 from the field but missed all five three-point attempts and went 2-for-5 at the line. Thiero's steals, blocks, and rim pressure give him a strong Summer League foundation, but his jumper still needs to catch up before his role can grow.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Jonathan Kuminga Remains Lakers Target in Free Agency
Free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga remains a top target for the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater. The 23-year-old hit the open market after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option following a season split between the Warriors and Hawks, where he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 36 games. A potential sign-and-trade to Los Angeles would create a highly favorable fantasy environment. With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura departing this summer, the Lakers desperately need athletic scoring on the wing. Kuminga would immediately step into heavy minutes alongside Luka Doncic, whose elite playmaking could easily fuel a career year. While his lack of blocked shots and steals keeps his ceiling in check, securing a featured role in coach JJ Redick's offense would make him a reliable source of points and rebounds.
Source: Anthony Slater
Source: Anthony Slater
AK Okereke Lands a Two-Way Deal With the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have made official their two-way signing of undrafted forward AK Okereke, Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation reports, filling the last of their three two-way slots. Okereke is a 6-7 floor-spacer who spent his final college season as a graduate transfer at Vanderbilt, averaging 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 40.0 percent from three. The stroke is real, but the fantasy path isn't. Okereke is an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract, which caps his active games, and he's buried on a win-now roster built around Luka Doncic. Expect most of his season to come with the South Bay Lakers.
Source: Ryan Ward
Source: Ryan Ward
Adou Thiero Stuffs the Box Score in Sunday's California Classic Victory
Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero delivered a strong all-around performance Sunday in the California Classic Summer League. He finished with 13 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists across 28 minutes during a 93-91 double-overtime win over the Miami Heat. The second-year forward made an impact with his activity on both ends, but his shooting remains a concern after he went 3-for-9 from the field, 0-for-2 from three-point range, and 4-for-7 at the line. Thiero's defense and downhill scoring are useful, but he needs a more reliable jumper to carve out steady fantasy value on a veteran-heavy Lakers roster.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Lakers Explore Jonathan Kuminga as Free-Agent Wing Target
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to explore the feasibility of adding free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Stein also reports that Cleveland and Milwaukee have expressed interest, while a return to Atlanta has not been ruled out. Kuminga became an unrestricted free agent after the Hawks declined his team option, and he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season. The Lakers need athletic wing depth and perimeter defense, but their financial constraints make this far from simple. Kuminga's fantasy value would depend heavily on his landing spot, with Los Angeles offering defensive minutes but not necessarily a high-usage role.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Sandro Mamukelashvili Joins Lakers Frontcourt Rotation
Free-agent forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal includes a fourth-year player option. The 27-year-old exceeded expectations in his lone season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from downtown. Mamukelashvili rarely started with the Raptors, but that is likely to change in Los Angeles following the departure of LeBron James. His defensive inefficiencies can be masked by new center Walker Kessler, while providing important floor spacing for the Luka Doncic-run offense.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
