Lakers Cut Ties With Longtime Center

By Alex Kirschenbaum

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Los Angeles Lakers are set to part ways with a longtime center.

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According to Shams Charania of ESPN, LA will waive two-way signing Christian Koloko. The veteran big man had been with the Lakers since the 2024-25 season. Los Angeles is looking to try out South Bay Lakers G League standout Drew Timme on a bigger stage.

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It was announced days ago that Timme would take up one of the Lakers' three two-way deals, and given that all were occupied, it was clear someone would be on his way out.

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As Charania notes, Timme has been averaging 25.2 points, 8.0 boards and 4.0 dimes while with the South Bay Lakers. Clearly, the Lakers want to give him a closer look.

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Koloko was initially brought in as center insurance last season behind oft-injured then-starting five Anthony Davis and raw rim-roller Jaxson Hayes. He became more critical as a deep-bench emergency option when the Lakers flipped Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in their no-brainer blockbuster deal to acquire five-time All-NBA First Team superstar guard Luka Doncic.

Los Angeles solved its center problem this summer, inking former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton to a two-season, $16.2 million agreement with a player option in 2026-27. Hayes and Doncic trade throw-in Maxi Kleber are the two legitimate center-sized options on the bench behind Ayton, while 6-foot-8 forward Rui Hachimura and 6-foot-9 forward Jarred Vanderbilt can play some small-ball center minutes, essentially making Koloko superfluous.

The 7-foot-1 Arizona product, 25, was frequently pressed into service by head coach JJ Redick last year, averaging 2.4 points on 60.6 percent field goal shooting and 71.4 percent shooting from the free throw line and 2.5 rebounds in 37 games last year. He appeared in a scant two contests this season, averaging 3.0 minutes per to his 9.0 minutes in 2024-25. In two Tip-Off Tournament contests for South Bay this season, he had averaged 8.5 points on 57.1 percent field goal shooting, 8.5 boards, 1.5 blocks and 0.5 steals a night.

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