The Los Angeles Lakers have waived center Lawson Lovering from his two-way deal, replacing him with fellow big man Carson Cooper. This move, happening roughly two weeks after Lovering was signed, highlights the Lakers’ ongoing search for a potential center solution, though it is clearly on the margins.
One Big Man Out, Another Big Man In
Lovering, a 7-foot center, had only been with the Lakers for a brief stint, making some garbage time cameos with the parent team at the start of the G League season. He never played with Coachella Valley. Last season, with the Memphis Grizzlies, he averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds over two games. His departure clears the way for Carson Cooper, a 6’10” center, who will now occupy that two-way spot.
Who is Carson Cooper, Anyway?
Cooper’s resume suggests he is another speculative pick for the Lakers. He was with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season, appearing in just one game for three minutes. He signed a two-way deal with Memphis after going undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. During Summer League play, across nine games in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, Cooper put up 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds, even attempting four three-pointers and making two. His college career at Michigan State saw him average 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds, shooting 58.4% from the field. Interestingly, he only attempted five threes all season for Michigan State and averaged just one block per game.
Still Shuffling on the Margins
Let’s be real, with how the Lakers are playing right now and Cooper’s limited NBA experience, it is tough to expect much from this signing. The team is clearly shuffling through options, but none of these moves seem all that intriguing on paper. These are makeshift, break-in-case-of-emergency solutions, and they probably won’t see significant playing time. For the Lakers, it looks like the search for a true center solution continues.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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