Whereas the Los Angeles Lakers’ post-All-Star break loss to the Charlotte Hornets drew consideration on Wednesday night time, the entrance workplace quietly made a transfer that might have roster implications because the season progresses.
The Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, introduced the acquisition of ahead Cole Swider in a commerce with the Motor Metropolis Cruise, the Detroit Pistons’ affiliate, via Sports Illustrated. In change, South Bay despatched the returning participant rights to ahead Chris Silva and a 2025 first-round draft choose.
Swider is a well-recognized title for Lakers followers, having spent his rookie season with the group on a two-way contract in 2022-23 after going undrafted within the 2022 NBA Draft. A extremely regarded sharpshooter out of Villanova and Syracuse, he was seen as an intriguing prospect however struggled to carve out a job on the NBA stage. Swider primarily performed within the G League earlier than being waived on the finish of the season.
Since then, the 6-foot-8 ahead has signed two-way offers with the Miami Warmth and Detroit Pistons, although NBA alternatives have remained scarce. Nevertheless, within the G League, Swider has developed right into a prolific scorer.
Throughout 72 profession video games, he has averaged 19.8 factors, 5.7 rebounds and a couple of.2 assists whereas capturing a powerful 44.8 % from past the arc. He has reached double figures in 64 video games, posted 20 or extra factors 39 occasions, and notched 10 performances of 30-plus factors.
This season, Swider has continued his sturdy play, averaging 20.9 factors throughout 18 video games for the Cruise whereas capturing 44.1 % from deep on 10.3 makes an attempt per sport.
The Lakers have now added one of many G League’s prime shooters to their ranks, becoming a member of the latest acquisition of former Laker Stanley Johnson. With South Bay struggling at 5-13 and sitting 14th within the Western Convention, the transfer indicators an effort to reverse their fortunes whereas keeping track of strengthening the NBA roster.
At 25, Swider nonetheless possesses useful upside, significantly as a floor-spacer—an attribute that has at all times been useful on LeBron James-led groups. With the Lakers not too long ago including Luka Doncic to their playmaking core, Swider might discover himself in line for one more NBA alternative, probably on a two-way deal.
