The Los Angeles Lakers just made some serious moves to bolster their lineup before training camp even kicks off! On Monday, the team officially announced they’ve signed forwards William Kyle III and Cole Swider. To make room for the new blood, guards Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross were waived. That’s a quick pivot, and it tells you everything about the front office’s focus on adding specific kinds of talent right now.
New Blood: A Defensive Monster and a Versatile Scorer
First up, let’s talk about William Kyle III. This guy is a certified defensive force! He rolled through the 2025-26 season starting all 32 games for Syracuse, and his stats jump off the page. He averaged a massive 2.5 blocks per game, which wasn’t just good, it *led the entire ACC*! Seriously, how often do you see an undrafted player come in with that kind of elite, conference-leading defensive skill? On top of shutting down the paint, he pulled down 7.1 rebounds and chipped in 8.4 points per game. That kind of rim protection and board crashing is going to be HUGE. You know Luka Doncic loves having guys who can clean up the glass and protect the basket behind him. Kyle is a legitimate grab who could seriously impact the rotation at power forward.
Cole Swider, on the other hand, brings a different kind of grit and experience. This dude finished his college career at Syracuse in 2021-22 and immediately signed a two-way deal with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he’s been a journeyman, grinding it out bouncing between the NBA and G League for three whole seasons, with stops in the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors organizations. Most recently, he was over in Europe, hooping for Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball Super League during the 2025-26 season, where he averaged a solid 7.6 points and 1.6 rebounds. That international experience, combined with his time in multiple NBA G League systems, tells you he’s seen a lot and he’s ready to compete. He’s going to bring a ton of versatility and a scoring punch to the small forward spot.
Shifting the Depth Chart: Where Do They Fit?
These additions totally reshape the back end of the depth chart, especially in the frontcourt. We’re talking about Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, and Bronny James running the point. Then you’ve got Austin Reaves, Cameron Carr, and Matisse Thybulle at shooting guard. The small forward rotation is now Quentin Grimes, Ziaire Williams, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, and now Cole Swider adding that scoring and veteran presence. Over at power forward, it’s Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, and the new shot-blocking machine William Kyle III. And of course, Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney anchoring the center position. The team clearly wants more depth and defensive energy in the frontcourt, and these guys fit that mold. You can feel the competition heating up with camp starting this week!
The clock is ticking for these new faces to integrate into the squad. They’ve got a little over a week to get up to speed before the first preseason game on October 5th. That’s when we get to see them in action against the Sacramento Kings. This isn’t just about roster spots; it’s about building chemistry and figuring out who can make a real difference for the season ahead. Get ready, folks, because the 2026 NBA season is almost here!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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