Los Angeles Lakers Make Roster Decision After Cavs Game

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers will decline Jalen Hood-Schifino's contract option for next season.

Oct 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (0) moves the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers (in Ohio) by a score of 134-110.

After the game (on Thursday), ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Lakers will not pick up Jalen Hood-Schifino's contract option for next season.

Hood-Schifino has yet to appear in any of the team's first five games.

Via Charania: "The Los Angeles Lakers are declining guard Jalen Hood-Schifino’s third-year team option worth $4 million for 2025-26, sources tell ESPN. This makes the 21-year-old, 6-foot-5 guard an unrestricted free agent in offseason and creates roster flexibility for Lakers."

The Los Angeles Lakers are declining guard Jalen Hood-Schifino’s third-year team option worth $4 million for 2025-26, sources tell ESPN. This makes the 21-year-old, 6-foot-5 guard an unrestricted free agent in offseason and creates roster flexibility for Lakers. pic.twitter.com/lwKGwVTg6w

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2024

Hood-Schifino was the 17th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Indiana.

He finished his rookie year with averages of 1.6 points per contest while shooting 22.2% from the field and 13.3% from the three-point range in 21 games.

Via Keith Smith of Spotrac: "I'll be curious to see if another team takes a shot on Jalen Hood-Schifino. He's done nothing at the NBA level, but his G League numbers last year were very good. Great size for his position, and I think the talent is in there somewhere. Good flyer for a rebuilding team."

I'll be curious to see if another team takes a shot on Jalen Hood-Schifino. He's done nothing at the NBA level, but his G League numbers last year were very good. Great size for his position, and I think the talent is in there somewhere. Good flyer for a rebuilding team.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 31, 2024

Last year, the former Hoosiers star averaged 22.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest while shooting 47.3% from the field and 43.2% from the three-point range in 15 G League games.

Oct 18, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (0) calls a play against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images / Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

As for the Lakers, they are 3-2 in their first five games of the new season.

Following the Cavs, they will visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday evening in Canada.