​The Lakers are being urged to part ways with a rookie guard and instead pursue a 6-foot-7 Summer League standout, a move highlighted by The Sporting News. To improve search results, readers are encouraged to add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Summer League represents a prime opportunity for NBA franchises to evaluate young talent that could prove valuable in the near term or the long run.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, there are several high-upside contributors who warrant close attention during the event. Arthur Kaluma, a former Creighton forward, stands out as one such prospect. The Boston, Massachusetts, native has started the offseason slate with impressive scoring progression in Las Vegas, recording 12 points against the Golden State Warriors, 16 against the San Antonio Spurs, 18 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, and an eye-popping 34 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Lakers Nation’s Daniel Starkand has publicly advocated for Kaluma to be considered for a two-way contract before another team snaps him up. “Lakers need to give Arthur Kaluma a two-way contract before someone else does,” Starkand wrote on X/Twitter over the weekend. Given that all of Los Angeles’ two-way roster spots are currently filled, the Lakers would need to release one current contributor to open a spot. When asked whether Kaluma could replace Peter Suder, an undrafted shooting guard from Miami University, Starkand confirmed that such a move is a viable possibility, stating, “Yes, they’ve done it in the past.”
Kaluma, who shot 55.6 percent from three last season with the South Bay Lakers in five G-League games after spending time with the organization, has continued to display his shooting prowess this summer. He’s shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range through four Las Vegas Summer League games and has shown the ability to slash to the basket when defenders overcommit to the perimeter. His defense is active, with solid positioning in help-side duties, and he has proven capable in one-on-one scenarios as an on-ball defender.
In contrast, Suder is best known for his shooting acumen dating back to his senior year at Miami University (42.1% from long range). However, his struggles with space creation and some defensive limitations could justify the Lakers’ potential decision to remove him from two-way consideration in favor of Kaluma.
Additional NBA updates include the 76ers claiming victory over the Lakers and Spurs for a $38 million former Cavaliers defender, the Celtics signing a high-end $295 million deal with a former Jazz All-Star guard to support Jayson Tatum, and the Knicks narrowly besting the Lakers to acquire a historic 6-foot-5 playoff hero who also holds an NBA championship.