Lakers Fill Out Roster with Pair of Two-Way Signings

After making space to sign Marcus Smart to a two-year deal, the Lakers have completed the roster with some two-way contract agreements. The team will bring back center Christian Koloko and add guard/forward Chris Manon, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. They will join big man Trey Jemison as the Lakers’ three two-way players.

Lakers Fill Out Roster with Pair of Two-Way Signings

Christian Koloko

The 7’1” Koloko returns to the Lakers after a season of shuttling between them and their G League affiliate, South Bay. The 25-year-old big man appeared in 37 games for the purple and gold, averaging 2.4 points (60% FG, 71% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.4 blocks per game. He also had a productive stint in the G League. In ten starts, he put up 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 1.4 assists per game on .550/.217/.704 splits.

Koloko made an NBA comeback after missing the 2023-24 season due to a career-threatening blood clot issue. Though he played sparingly for the Lakers (9.2 MPG), he showed promise as a two-way lob threat who could offer spot minutes on a team led by Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Chris Manon

A 6’5” guard/forward from Vanderbilt, Chris Manon joined the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League squad after going undrafted this year. He averaged 9.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists between three seasons at Cornell and a graduate year at Vanderbilt. Between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Manon put up 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks on .442/.286/.676 splits.

Though not necessarily a dominant scorer, Manon prides himself on “doing all the little things.” It’s an intangible that makes him a perfect fit with the Lakers and head coach JJ Redick. Golden State’s Summer League head coach, Lainn Wilson, had high praise for Manon in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“He’s a game changer. He can just impact the game in so many other ways and kind of be a spark where he’s causing live-ball turnovers in the open floor and that turns into automatic transition buckets for us. That can really help you flip that game.”

The Lakers have brought in a disruptive defender who can thrive in transition and make winning plays. Manon may be new to most fans now, but he could very well make a name for himself as he develops in LA.

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Lakers Fill Out Roster with Pair of Two-Way Signings