Lawson Lovering, a 23-year-old center, is on the Los Angeles Lakers' official roster as of Wednesday, Oct. 28. His contract is not on file yet, and the Lakers are carrying a payroll over the luxury tax.
The move
Lawson Lovering is on the Los Angeles Lakers' official roster as of Wednesday, Oct. 28. The 23-year-old center has one season of experience. He joins from free agency and was not on an NBA roster before the move. No report came before it, so there is no source or confidence level to cite. The terms of his deal have not been announced. It also has not been announced whether he holds a standard spot or a two-way spot.
The money
Lovering's contract is not on file yet. Public salary data can lag a signing by a day, so his cap hit and the length of his deal are not announced. The Lakers carry $201.3 million across 16 contracts. That puts them over the luxury tax line of $200.4 million. The salary cap is $165.0 million. The first apron is $209.0 million and the second apron is $221.7 million. Whatever Lovering's deal turns out to be, it will count toward a payroll that is already over the tax line.
The fit
Lovering has no NBA line from last season. The Lakers' rotation last season ran through Luka Doncic, who averaged 36.0 points in 35.5 minutes, and Austin Reaves, who averaged 26.5 points in 36.3 minutes. Walker Kessler played 31.5 minutes and scored 15.8 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 9.5 points in 22.7 minutes. Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Jake LaRavia rounded out the group. The Lakers now have 18 players on the roster. The limit is 15 standard players plus 3 two-way players.
When did Lawson Lovering join the Lakers?
He is on the Lakers' official roster as of Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Where did he come from?
He joins from free agency. He was not on an NBA roster before the move.
What is his contract?
It is not on file yet. His cap hit and years are not announced.
Did he play in the NBA last season?
No. He has no NBA line from last season.
Is he on a standard or two-way deal?
That has not been announced. The Lakers have 18 players on the roster, against a limit of 15 standard players plus 3 two-way players.
Where do the Lakers stand financially?
They carry $201.3 million across 16 contracts. That is over the $200.4 million luxury tax line and below the $209.0 million first apron.