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While normally a post-draft tradition, the formation of Summer League rosters is preceding Thursday evening’s NBA draft this year. Whether it’s COVID expediting the entire offseason, the lack of Summer League last year, or no G League season for the Lakers this season, their work appears to be starting early when it comes to the formation of a roster as reports have begun surfacing.
On Wednesday, JD Shaw of HoopsRumors reported that Zavier Simpson would sign with the Lakers Summer League roster, a return for the Michigan guard who signed as an undrafted free agent with Los Angeles after the 2020 NBA draft.
Former Michigan point guard Zavier Simpson has committed to play summer league with the Lakers in Las Vegas next month, source tells @HoopsRumors.
— JD Shaw (@JShawNBA) July 28, 2021
Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN also reported that Simpson would be joining the Lakers, while reporting on a number of other names that would join the team in Las Vegas in August.
Guard Dakota Mathias, forward Yoeli Childs, forward Vic Law and point guard Zavier Simpson are expected to play on the Lakers summer league team according to a league source.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) July 29, 2021
Mathias was also a member of the Lakers Summer League team in 2019. Last season, he spent time in Philadelphia where he played eight games, averaging 15.4 minutes and 6 points per game. His playing time came almost exclusively during a COVID outbreak with the Sixers.
Yoeli Childs interviewed with the Lakers in the pre-draft process of the 2020 NBA draft. He spent last season with the Erie Bay Hawks, averaging 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.
Vic Law is a new name to Laker fans. After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Law signed with the Orlando Magic in training camp before playing for the Lakeland Magic in the G League. Law made his NBA debut after signing a two-way deal in early 2020 but played just eight games for Orlando. Last year, he played in the NBL for the Brisbane Bullets, averaging 18.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game.
For the Lakers, the Las Vegas Summer League kicks off on Aug. 8 against the Suns. Each of the Lakers four Summer League games will be nationally televised.
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