Lakers News: Lakers sign Travis Wear to 10-day contract

With healthy bodies becoming more scarce every day for the Los Angeles Lakers, the team finally put one of their two open roster spots to good use.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the story first, reporting the Lakers plan on signing South Bay Lakers star and former UCLA product Travis Wear. The Lakers have since made the signing official.

Wear is no stranger to the Lakers organization. Aside from playing for their G-League affiliate, Wear has been part of L.A.’s 20-man training camp roster twice and was part of their championship winning Summer League squad last year. Despite being cut both times, Wear has reason to be optimistic about sticking with the Lakers this year.

For starters, Wear is having a career year with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 16.7 points on 41.9 percent shooting from behind the arc to go along with 8.3 rebounds and two assists. His play with South Bay led to his selection for the USA Basketball team for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Team USA went 4-0 in the first round of qualifiers.

His fit with the Lakers this year also isn’t bad. In years past, Wear had to fight for playing time with Larry Nance Jr., Julius Randle and most recently Kyle Kuzma. But with Nance gone and Kuzma expected to play small forward more while Josh Hart nurses a fractured hand, Wear might actually see the floor this time around.

Wear puts the Lakers’ roster at 15, including the Lakers two two-way players Alex Caruso and Gary Payton II. He will likely join the Lakers for Saturday’s game in San Antonio.