:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69985701/1197964704.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly nearing a deal to sign free agent Sekou Doumbouya to their second two-way contract spot, according to multiple reports.
The Lakers are progressing toward a two-way deal with free agent forward Sekou Doumbouya, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Doumbouya was the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 12, 2021
Can confirm the Lakers are centered on adding F Sekou Doumbouya on a two-way deal. Former first-round pick, flashed some potential before falling out of favor in Det (and being let go by Brooklyn and Hou)
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 12, 2021
Doumbouya has had an adventurous preseason. After spending the early part of training camp with the Brooklyn Nets and even playing the Lakers in the first preseason game of the year, Doumbouya was dealt to the Houston Rockets in a largely cap-saving move. The Rockets then waived Doumbouya, making him a free agent.
The Lakers currently have 20 players on their training camp roster, which is the league maximum, meaning they will have to waive someone to add Doumbouya to their open two-way contract.
Doumbouya was the No. 15 pick in 2019 and spent two seasons in Detroit where he featured in 94 games and averaged 5.6 points. The 6’8” forward struggled shooting the ball across both of his seasons in the league, and he’s a career 38.4% shooter from the field and 25.4% shooter from range.
This offseason, Doumbouya was dealt to Brooklyn in the trade that sent DeAndre Jordan to Detroit before he was ultimately bought out and signed with the Lakers. Doumbouya played just the one game with the Nets in the preseason against the Lakers, scoring 11 points in 13 minutes.
Doumbouya’s signing comes after injuries to Trevor Ariza and Talen Horton-Tucker have sapped the team’s depth at the forward position. Per Cleaning the Glass, 94% of Doumbouya’s 869 minutes last season came at the power forward position. In his rookie season, 76% of his minutes came at the 4, with the remainder being at small forward.
With the team focused on keeping a roster spot open to make a potential in-season buyout signing, Doumbouya allows the team to keep that roster spot open while also giving them insurance in the front court. It’s a solid buy-low move on a guy who at least has a chance to outplay this cheap investment.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
Loading comments...