​Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka during the end of season press conference in May 2026 GettyHeading into the 2026-27 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have an intriguing situation developing on the fringes of their roster.Returning guard Chris Manon, Summer League standout Arthur Kaluma, and undrafted forward AK Okereke currently occupy the team’s three two-way spots.Manon appears to be in a strong position entering his sophomore season, while Kaluma strengthened his case with an impressive Summer League showing and offers intriguing upside on the wing.Okereke, meanwhile, remains more of an unknown commodity as he prepares for his rookie campaign. That could leave the 23-year-old facing early pressure to prove he belongs in the Lakers’ long-term developmental plans.Lakers Have Already Shown Willingness to Make Ruthless DecisionsThe Lakers have already demonstrated this offseason that their two-way roster is far from set in stone.Undrafted guard Peter Suder initially signed a two-way contract with Los Angeles before being waived to make room for Kaluma.Suder endured a relatively quiet Summer League campaign, while Kaluma emerged as one of the team’s standout performers, prompting Rob Pelinka and the front office to make an early change.It served as another reminder of how quickly opportunities can disappear on the fringes of an NBA roster.Okereke will likely spend significant time during his rookie season with the Coachella Valley Lakers in the G League. However, several other developmental prospects will also be attempting to force their way onto the front office’s radar, particularly in the frontcourt.Former Syracuse big man William Kyle III is among those players and will have an opportunity to make his own impression after signing an Exhibit 10 deal.That competition means a slow start for Okereke could potentially put his two-way position under pressure.The Lakers faced a similar situation early last season when Drew Timme exploded onto the scene with South Bay, averaging a team-high 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.2 steals.Timme quickly attracted attention, earning G League Player of the Week honors before securing a two-way contract. Los Angeles waived Christian Koloko to create the necessary roster spot.
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Ak Okereke Brings Intriguing Versatility to LAOkereke arrives with the Lakers following a four-year college career that included three seasons at Cornell between 2022 and 2025 before transferring to Vanderbilt for his senior campaign.In his lone season with the Commodores, the 23-year-old averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field.His perimeter shooting was particularly encouraging, with Okereke converting 40.0% of his three-point attempts on 2.8 shots per game.Coincidentally, his college journey mirrors that of Manon, who also spent three seasons at Cornell before finishing his collegiate career at Vanderbilt.“AK Okereke has a rare com