Lakers Veterans Reportedly on the Chopping Block to Open Roster Spots Ahead of Playoffs.
An NBA insider has reported that the Los Angeles Lakers may release two specific veterans to free up roster spots before the playoffs begin.
As the NBA playoffs approach, the Los Angeles Lakers have been gaining momentum. JJ Redick’s team, once on the postseason bubble, has transformed into a serious championship contender. Heading into Tuesday, the Lakers had a 38-21 record, securing second place in the Western Conference.
Despite their strong performance, the Lakers’ playoff roster is still a work in progress. General manager Rob Pelinka has time to add a free agent or convert a two-way contract into a full deal. However, the roster is currently at full capacity, meaning the Lakers must waive a player to make room for another.
Regarding potential roster moves, one NBA analyst has identified two Lakers veterans most likely to be let go.
Lakers May Release Cam Reddish and Alex Len to Clear Roster Spots.
On Tuesday, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus discussed the possibility of the Lakers promoting two-way players Jordan Goodwin and Trey Jemison III to standard NBA contracts. If Pelinka decides to promote either player, Pincus suggests that Cam Reddish and Alex Len are the most likely candidates for release.
“The team already has the maximum 15 players, but it showed its hand with Cam Reddish, who was involved in the rescinded Mark Williams trade,” Pincus explained. “He would still earn his salary but could be waived to make room for one of the two-way promotions.”
As for Len, Pincus noted that the Lakers might part ways with him because “he’s played only 35 minutes and doesn’t seem to fit as well as Jemison.”
Lakers fans wouldn’t be surprised if Reddish and or Len were released before the playoffs.
As Pincus pointed out, the Lakers tried to trade Reddish in last month’s failed deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The former 2019 10th overall pick has struggled throughout the 2024-25 season, averaging just 3.3 points on .430/.289/.615 shooting splits while playing around 18 minutes per game in 31 appearances.
With Reddish’s contract set to expire this offseason, the Lakers may prefer to move on sooner rather than later.
In contrast, parting with Len would signal a quick end to his brief Lakers stint. Expectations were low when the team signed the 7-footer on February 11, but no one anticipated his poor performance, posting just 1.3 points and 3.0 rebounds on 40.0% shooting in his first three games.
It’s clear why the Lakers might want to open up Len’s roster spot for Jemison, who has shown promise since joining the team in January. Despite a small sample size, the 25-year-old center has averaged 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds with a 68.4 FG% over his last seven games, suggesting he deserves more playing time.
Players on two-way contracts are ineligible for the NBA playoffs, so the Lakers must act quickly if they wish to promote either Jemison or Goodwin. Releasing Reddish or Len would benefit the team, especially since Redick will need only the most reliable players for the postseason.