Cole Swider is off the Los Angeles Lakers roster as of the official count on Thursday, Oct. 15. No destination is announced, and no contract is on file for him.
The move
Cole Swider, a 27-year-old forward in his third season, is off the Los Angeles Lakers roster as of the official count on Thursday, Oct. 15. The departure follows a report from Dan Woike on Wednesday, Oct. 14, titled "Lakers Sign Young, Tait-Jones To Camp Deals," which carried no listed confidence figure. The roster change itself, not a separate announcement, is what flagged Swider's exit. No destination for Swider is announced.
The money
No contract is on file yet for Swider; public salary data can lag a signing by a day, so his terms are not available. The Lakers carry a payroll of $201.3 million across 16 contracts for 2026-27, putting the club over the luxury tax. The league cap sits at $165.0 million, the tax line at $200.4 million, the first apron at $209.0 million and the second apron at $221.7 million.
The fit
Swider has no NBA line from last season. The Lakers' rotation last season was led by Luka Doncic at 35.8 minutes and 33.5 points, Austin Reaves at 34.5 minutes and 23.3 points, and LeBron James at 33.2 minutes and 20.9 points, with Rui Hachimura at 28.3 minutes and 11.5 points and Jake LaRavia at 25.1 minutes and 8.2 points also in the mix. The roster now stands at 20 players, 15 on standard deals plus three on two-way contracts.
Why is Cole Swider off the Lakers roster?
The move was detected through the Lakers' official roster on Thursday, Oct. 15. No reason is announced.
Did a report precede the move?
Dan Woike reported Wednesday, Oct. 14, that the Lakers signed Young and Tait-Jones to camp deals. No confidence figure was listed for that report.
What is Swider's contract status?
No contract is on file yet. Public salary data can lag a signing by a day.