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The Los Angeles Lakers and the rest of the NBA are set to begin training camp this week on Dec. 1, but the purple and gold — like many teams — aren’t quite done with their roster just yet.
NBA teams can bring up to 20 players into their training camp, and have to cut their roster down to a maximum of 15 players (or minimum of 13) by the end of it, not counting the pair of two-way contracts each team is allowed to have.
Below, we will be keeping track of which players are in camp with the Lakers, and what their contract status is. But first, a brief explainer on each type of deal.
- Guaranteed contract — Exactly what it sounds like. A fully guaranteed deal that would count against the Lakers’ cap number, even if the player is cut.
- Non-guaranteed contract — Again, exactly what it sounds like. A contract that is not fully guaranteed to pay out, and only counts against the cap for as long as the player is with the team (or for as much money as they had guaranteed. Quinn Cook, for example, is still on the Lakers’ books for $1 million of his $3 million partially guaranteed deal).
- Two-way contract — In normal years, a contract that allows a player to spend up to 45 days with their NBA team on a prorated NBA salary, and the rest of their time in the G League. This year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, two-way players can play up to 50 games with their parent team, and are paid just short of $500,000 regardless. Two-way contracts don’t count against the maximum of 15 guaranteed deals during the season, but they do count towards the 20-player training camp maximum.
- Exhibit 10 contract — According to Larry Coon’s invaluable CBA FAQ, an Exhibit 10 contract is able to be converted into a two-way contract, and is also a means for teams to provide a bonus that ranges “from $5,000 to $50,000 if the player is waived by his NBA team, signs with the G-League, is assigned to the NBA team’s G-League affiliate, and stays there at least 60 days.”
- Camp Deal or Training Camp Invite — Basically an invitation to participate in training camp with a small chance to make the team or compete for a spot in the G League. Non-guaranteed.
Now, without further ado, let’s go through the roster, which we will keep updated as it develops.
Lakers Training Camp Roster
- LeBron James — Guaranteed contract
- Anthony Davis — Guaranteed contract
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — Guaranteed contract
- Marc Gasol — Guaranteed contract
- Wesley Matthews — Guaranteed contract
- Dennis Schröder — Guaranteed contract
- Montrezl Harrell — Guaranteed contract
- Alex Caruso — Guaranteed contract
- Kyle Kuzma — Guaranteed contract
- Markieff Morris — Guaranteed contract
- Jared Dudley — Guaranteed contract
- Talen Horton-Tucker — Guaranteed contract
- Alfonzo McKinnie — Guaranteed contract
- Quinn Cook — Non-guaranteed camp deal
- Devontae Cacok — Two-way contract
- Kostas Antetokounmpo — Two-way contract
The Lakers cut the following three players on Dec. 14.
- Tres Tinkle — Exhibit 10 contract (non-guaranteed)
- Zavier Simpson — Unknown, likely Exhibit 10 contract or camp deal
- Kevon Harris — Unknown, likely Exhibit 10 contract or camp deal
The Lakers only have enough room under the hard cap for one more guaranteed veteran’s minimum contract — which will likely end up being Cook, at least to start — and as such will likely have to wait until after the buyout deadline to add a final, 15th guaranteed contract.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.