Lakers cut Joel Berry II and Jeffrey Carroll, trim training camp roster to 17

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived undrafted rookies Joel Berry II and Jeffrey Carroll, the team announced in a press release on Monday. The roster now stands at 17 players, with 14 guaranteed contracts and a pair of two-way contracts.

In three preseason games with the Lakers, Berry II put up a total 5 points, 3 assists and 1 rebounds. Meanwhile, Carroll went scoreless in his one appearance with the team on Saturday.

Carroll signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Lakers in July, which would have allowed the team to convert his contract into a two-way contract. But while both of the Lakers’ two-way contract slots are currently vacated by Alex Caruso and Travis Wear, that deal can still pay dividends for the 23-year-old guard.

If Berry spends at least 60 days with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, after being waived, he’s eligible for a bonus. It wouldn’t be surprising to see both Carroll and Berry with South Bay if they clear waivers.

With Berry and Carroll no longer on the roster, former Gonzaga Bulldogs big man Jonathan Williams is the lone training camp invite with a non-guaranteed contract. Williams has appeared in all four games for the Lakers in the preseason, totaling 24 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in 47 minutes.

Williams will have the opportunity to compete for the final roster spot, but general manager Rob Pelinka has already said that the team is “leaning toward” keeping that spot open.

“I think flexibility is really important,” Pelinka told ESPN LA. “We’re deep already and going into camp, what a roster spot does, just to educate the audience is that it helps in a trade. So if you want to trade one player out and bring two back at the same salary, that gives you flexibility in the trade market. And then it also helps you if there’s an injury and a certain position goes down and you need to fill the need.

“So it does give us flexibility, but I think as of now, Magic’s lean is keep it open and stay flexible because we’re so deep ... That’s our current position.”

The Lakers have until the start of the regular season on Oct. 18 to finalize their roster. At 17 players, the Lakers are at the maximum amount of players a team can go into the season with, but there’s a strong possibility they trim the roster down to 16.

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