Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Sign 2 New Players

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers signed two new players following the NBA Draft.

On Thursday evening, the 2023 NBA Draft took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

In addition to the 58 new players selected into the league, there were also many trades during the evening.   

Once the Draft ends, players that do not get drafted are able to sign with teams as free agents.   

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers have already agreed to sign two new players. 

Via McMenamin: "Colin Castleton - a center out of Florida - and D’Moi Hodge - a guard out of Missouri - are signing two-way contracts with the Lakers, sources told ESPN."

Colin Castleton - a center out of Florida - and D’Moi Hodge - a guard out of Missouri - are signing two-way contracts with the Lakers, sources told ESPN.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 23, 2023

Castleton played five college basketball seasons (two for Michigan and three for Florida). 

The 23-year-old is coming off a season where he averaged 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.0 blocks per contest while shooting 50.0% from the field. 

Which NBA team should take a swing on Colin Castleton in the second-round of the 2023 NBA Draft? @Castleton_

6’10.5’’ Without shoes.
7’3.5” Wingspan

16 PTS 7.7 REB 2.7 AST
50 FG% 72.9 FT% (26 games in senior szn for @GatorsMBK)

▫️ Versatile big man inside the arc who can… pic.twitter.com/DWu1sjDJGU

— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) June 5, 2023

As for Hodge, the 24-year-old most recently played for Missouri and averaged 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.6 steals per contest while shooting an outstanding 47.7% from the field and 40.0% from the three-point range.

THE ONE-LEGGED FADEAWAY 😱

D'Moi Hodge beats the shot clock with a circus three-pointer 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ODJbtgZ6qm

— ESPN (@espn) March 11, 2023

The Lakers had a fantastic season, finishing as one of the top four teams in the NBA. 

They were the seventh seed in the Western Conference but defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in tournament and the Memphis Grizzlies (second seed) and Golden State Warriors (2022 NBA Champions) in the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs. 

However, they were swept by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals. 

More on the Los Angeles Lakers can be read here