The Los Angeles Lakers made a roster adjustment on their two-way list, waiving Ak Okereke to open a spot for Lawson Lovering. The move gives the Lakers another natural center and ends Okereke's stint on the two-way roster only a few months after he joined the team.
Why Lawson Lovering fits the move
Lovering is a 7-foot big man who went undrafted in 2025 after a four-year college career split between Colorado and Utah. He spent most of the season with the Memphis Hustle before the Memphis Grizzlies signed him to a 10-day contract in February.
That brief NBA opportunity included a notable Feb. 20 performance against the Utah Jazz, when Lovering posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes. He later returned to the Memphis G League system, and the Grizzlies waived him in late September when they signed Carson Cooper to a two-way contract.
What Okereke brought to the Lakers
Okereke also arrived as an undrafted player, entering the league after the 2026 NBA Draft. The Lakers added him on a two-way deal, and his exit now clears the way for a different developmental option at the same roster level.
For the Lakers, the change is less about a major rotation shake-up and more about slot management. Two-way spots are limited, so every addition comes with a corresponding move. In this case, the team chose to use that opening on a player whose size and center profile may better fit what it wants to evaluate next.
The decision also follows a broader pattern for Lovering, who has moved through the Memphis G League path before getting NBA looks. Now he gets another chance with the Lakers, while Okereke's opportunity with the organization ends for the moment.
For a reminder of how the Lakers first added Okereke, see Peter Suder's report on the team signing him after trading No. 56 pick.
