Lakers Signing New Big Man To 2-Way Deal
Your Los Angeles Lakers have added a new edition to their roster for the season's home stretch!
Don't get too excited, though, it's just Harry Giles, and LA will just be using a two-way contract to sign him, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Giles, a 6'11" ex-Duke Blue Devils big man/power forward who prior to this season had washed out of the NBA for two years after being selected with the No. 20 pick in 2017, is a strange signing on paper.
Across 16 games for the Brooklyn Nets this season (before he was cut), Giles averaged posted 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per night.
Usually, two-way spots are reserved for up-and-coming young players, talented pieces with upside. Yes, Giles at 25 is still fairly young and has been plagued by injury issues, but after spending parts of four NBA seasons on three different teams in the past six seasons, it sure seems like there could be more intriguing, higher-upside prospects worth exploring with a two-way spot.
The Lakers currently have all three of their two-way roster spots occupied, meaning the team will have to cut somebody to accommodate Giles. The smart money would be on two-way center Colin Castleton, who remains out for at least one more week with a right wrist fracture anyway. Castleton has appeared in just seven games with LA, averaging 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per.