The team has agreed to terms with center Lewis Hamilton on a two-way contract and plans to bolster its frontcourt following the departure of Christian Wood, according to people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The 24-year-old Koloko was the No. 33 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but missed all of last season with blood clot-related issues and has yet to be cleared by the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel, the group of doctors that will determine whether Koloko can return to the court.
The Lakers’ roster is at full capacity with 15 players and are expected to waive one of their three players on two-way contracts to make room for Koloko.
Koloko showed great defensive potential during his time on the court as a rookie with the Toronto Raptors. The 7-foot-1 center with a 7-foot-5 wingspan averaged one blocked shot in 13.8 minutes per game. The Raptors waived Koloko last January to free up space on the roster after completing a trade with Indiana.
Players who have not been cleared by the NBA’s medical committee are still eligible to sign with a team, but the deal would still be subject to review by the NBA, according to a person familiar with the matter.
