Lakers Sign G League Standout Amid Roster Shakeup

Los Angeles continues to make changes to its roster with the regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors fast approaching.

Sep 24, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks to the media during a press conference at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Lakers are working toward getting their roster down to the maximum of 15 players before the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season on Oct. 21, when they host the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.

With only one game left on their preseason schedule, the Lakers made a move on Wednesday, parting ways with a familiar face while bringing in another guard.

Lakers Sign Jahmir Young, Waive Cole Swider

The Lakers announced on Wednesday night that the team has officially waived sharpshooter Cole Swider and has brought in guard Jahmir Young.

Lakers have signed guard Jahmir Young. In a corresponding move, the team has waived forward Cole Swider

— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) October 15, 2026

This isn’t a substantial move, like the Lakers trade rumors that have been swirling around about the team sending out two players and bringing back one, but more of a move on the margins, with Swider and Young likely ultimately landing with the G League affiliate Coachella Valley Lakers for the upcoming season.

On September 29, Young was acquired by Coachella Valley in the deal that sent big man Kylor Kelly and a 2027 G League first-round draft pick to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Young had quite a season with Skyforce last year, averaging 25.9 points, 8.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc.

As a result of his stellar season, Young earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors.

In three preseason games played, Swider didn’t see the floor much for the Lakers. He averaged 4.0 points per game, ironically more than Dalton Knecht (3.7), while shooting 75% from deep.

Lakers Nearing Deadline to Set Final Roster

Before taking on the Warriors on Oct. 21, the Lakers will need to get their roster down to 15 players, meaning at least one player with a guaranteed contract on the team will not be next week.

That said, the preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets on Friday at Crypto.com Arena will be crucial to the final roster decision by head coach JJ Redick and his coaching staff.

A few players rumored to be on the roster bubble for the Lakers include Bronny James, Jaden Hardy, Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt.

General manager Rob Pelinka will likely try to make a trade in the coming days, with talk of the team trying to move two players in exchange for one.

With the Lakers thin in the frontcourt, the team targeting a big man in a trade would be the safe bet, but if there are no takers for what Los Angeles is offering, waiving a player will be the route they'll take.

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