With training camp kicking off next week, the Lakers’ front office has been quietly active lately. They inked Anton Watson, Chase Ross, and Meechie Johnson Jr. to Exhibit 10 contracts but waived Watson just a day later. Ross and Johnson followed suit, getting waived Sunday night to make room for Cole Swider and William Kyle III.
Why sign players only to release them almost immediately? Even with 16 standard contracts already in place, the Lakers are leveraging the expanded training camp roster limit—up to 21 players before the regular-season cut—to develop their G League squad.
Exhibit 10 deals give the Lakers a way to provide extra financial incentives to players who commit to the Coachella Valley Lakers, their G League affiliate, for at least 60 days. These bonuses range from $5,000 to about $90,000 and crucially don’t affect the Lakers’ salary cap or luxury-tax standing. Essentially, this strategy allows the Lakers to invest in talent development without impacting their payroll constraints, a negligible cost for the organization’s wealthy ownership.
To qualify for the bonus, Ross and Johnson must be waived before the regular season starts. Given the Lakers’ already crowded roster, their chances of securing a regular-season spot are slim. However, by keeping them in training camp, the Lakers can evaluate whether they’re worthy of a standard contract or one of their three two-way slots. Note that Exhibit 10 contracts cannot be upgraded to two-way contracts once the season begins.
Watson was a 2024 second-round draft pick (No. 54) by the Boston Celtics, who signed him to a two-way deal but waived him without a regular-season appearance. The Knicks picked him up and gave him minor playing time late in the 2024-25 season. Last year, the Lakers also signed Watson to an Exhibit 10 deal before waiving him prior to the 2025-26 season. In the G League during that season, Watson put up solid numbers, averaging 11 points, 4.9 rebounds, and nearly 3 assists per game with efficient shooting.
Ross, undrafted out of Marquette after a strong senior year marked by defensive honors, posted averages of 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals. Johnson, also undrafted after stints at Ohio State and South Carolina, posted 17.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds as a super senior but shot under 42% overall.
Currently, the Lakers have signed the maximum six players to Exhibit 10 deals. Watson, Ross, and Johnson are expected to join Robbie Avila, William Kyle III, and Robert McCray on the Coachella Valley Lakers’ roster soon. If they stick around into the holiday season, they could earn some nice bonuses.
While these moves might seem minor and the chances of these players making a long-term impact on the Lakers are slim, the organization’s smart utilization of Exhibit 10 contracts helps them bring more talent into their developmental pipeline without significant financial risk.
Fan Take: This news matters because it highlights how NBA teams build depth and nurture future talent beyond the main roster, giving fans a glimpse into the strategic groundwork behind championship contenders. It also signals how the development pathway via G League contracts continues to evolve, impacting the broader landscape of professional basketball.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
