The Los Angeles Lakers have filled one of their two remaining roster spots. According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the team has claimed Kostas Antetokounmpo off waivers and will sign him to a two-way contract. He will join Gonzaga’s Zach Norvell as the two two-way players allowed on the roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers have claimed Kostas Antetokounmpo off free agency waivers, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 21, 2019
The two-way designation means Antetokounmpo can be with the Lakers for 45 days over the course of a season and must spend the rest of his time in the G-League with the South Bay Lakers.
Kostas is the younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks star and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He spent last year on a two-way deal with the Dallas Mavericks where he appeared in just two games. With the Texas Legends last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
At 21 years old, the 6-10 forward is still very much a project but the Lakers’ development system has proven it can create NBA players out of the G-League, most recently evidenced by Alex Caruso’s earning of a contract with the Lakers this offseason.
The Lakers, of course, are also eyeing the future and Giannis is the next player that teams are getting ready to pursue once he potentially hits free agency in 2021. While the Bucks seem to be in a good place, there’s no guarantee that the international star will not pursue a move to a bigger market and the Lakers are clearly hoping to get some intel and get in Antetokounmpo’s good graces a few years ahead of time.
