Lakers officially announce Summer League roster

Most of the roster speculation around the Los Angeles Lakers has (understandably) centered on the team’s free agency in recent days. However, with Las Vegas Summer League right around the corner, the team needed to get its roster for the competition in place within the next week.

The Lakers have officially done so, and released their official Summer League roster in a press release on Friday morning. As expected, D’Angelo Russell, Larry Nance, Jr., Anthony Brown, and Brandon Ingram will all head to Las Vegas for the exhibition. A few of the other previously reported names like Jabari Brown, Zach Auguste, Moustapha Fall, and Jamil Wilson will also join the team.

Falling at least somewhat under the category of a surprise is the inclusion of Lakers’ second round pick Ivica Zubac, who had said on draft night that he hoped to play, but the team was unsure if contractual issues with his European team would prevent him from joining the roster.

Additional names that had not been previously reported include Nikola Jovanovic, Trevor Lacey, Xavier Munford, Ethan Wragge, and Jarvis Varnado. New Lakers assistant Jesse Mermuys will coach the team, with Lakers assistant coach Mark Madsen and Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach Casey Owens serving as his assistants. Here is the list in full:

Jovanovic is an undrafted free agent out of USC, who gives the team some big man depth. Varnado is an NBA veteran who has played for the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers and will round out the teams rotation at center

Wragge went undrafted out of Creighton two years ago and has been playing in Germany, while Lacey went undrafted last year and spent the last year playing professionally in Italy. Munford is a slightly more interesting name who finished last season with the Memphis Grizzlies after being called up from the D-League and will provide depth in the backcourt

Perhaps most interesting was the exclusion of the newly re-signed Jordan Clarkson. The Lakers had reportedly hoped he would play in Summer League, but it looks like both sides must have decided against that move.

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