Lakers News: LA Will Bring Back One Of Its 2023-23 Two-Way Players

Should LA keep them on as a two-way player?

With the new rules in the NBA, teams are now allowed to keep three two-way players on their roster. It's a great new part of the league as it gives more players a potential chance to reach the league. There is so much talent out there and this now allows for more players to be seen. 

The Lakers signed Colin Castleton out of the University of Florida and D'Moi Hodge from the University of Missouri to two-way deals this season. But they also still have one of their two-way players from last season, Cole Swider. 

Swider went un-drafted last season and spent most of the year in the G-League. He is known for being a knockdown three-point shooter but the main reason as to why he never really joined the Lakers was because he offered very little of anything else. 

He averaged 17.1 points per game and shot 43.6 percent from three in the G-League last season. If he could ever get his defense up to even league average, he would be a hot commodity due to his size. He has the ideal body type for a solid NBA three-and-D level player as he stands at six-foot-nine. 

Cole Swider starting off hot hitting this 3 on the move pic.twitter.com/fQVlhtAVIu

— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) July 6, 2023

Swider is using this summer as another chance to prove that he deserves some time in the NBA. So far through a few games, he has shown that he can still hit threes at a high level but he at times commits bad turnovers and doesn't make the "right" play. This could be in part due to him wanting to make a good impression but it's what has limited him so far.

In the teams first Summer League game in Las Vegas, Swider showed off his range by hitting five of eight three-point chances. He finished with 19 points and it was his best showing of the summer so far. The team is still high on him and that is why he is still signed to the two-way deal. 

If Swider can continue to develop as a more well-rounded player then the Lakers would likely give him a chance in the league. 

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