Lakers Make Final Move About Sophomore Sharpshooter

The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t really explosive in the offseason and Rob Pelinka signed just a few new players. Patrick Beverley is one of them. The Lakers wanted a sophomore sharpshooter, too.

Matt Ryan has earned his spot on the Lakers roster. The team likes his potential and his performance in the preseason was a big deal. Shams Charania from The Athletic was the first to report that the Lakers will add Ryan to their squad.

“Lakers’ G/F Matt Ryan has made the team’s current opening night roster, as the team won’t waive him by today’s roster cut deadline, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ryan shot 37.5 percent from 3-point land in preseason – including 20-point performance with six 3s last Sunday,” Charania wrote.

Lakers’ G/F Matt Ryan has made the team’s current opening night roster, as the team won’t waive him by today’s roster cut deadline, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ryan shot 37.5 percent from 3-point land in preseason – including 20-point performance with six 3s last Sunday.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 15, 2022

Ryan sustained an injury this summer, but the Lakers had already seen his potential. They watched him play and yes, he can shoot.

Lakers keep sophomore sharpshooter, move Russell Westbrook to the bench

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham is adjusting his starting lineup. Interestingly, Ham gave Westbrook a bench role. The one-time NBA MVP was down for whatever Ham had planned for him. Embracing a bench role? Why not?

“It’s a very small sample size but he made some great reads. Again, by the time we were able to get into any kind of real groove of the game he had to come out,” Ham told the media. “It is what it is. Injuries are a huge part of our business and major sports in general and you just have to navigate it the best you can.”

Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN discussed this change in the starting lineup. It didn’t come as a surprise and Ham is pretty happy with Westbrook’s performance from the bench.

ESPN reporting with @Mcten: The Lakers are planning to bring Russell Westbrook off the bench in the final preseason game vs. Kings tonight (ESPN, 10 ET). Darvin Ham and Westbrook have been exploring possibility of Westbrook quarterbacking second unit and they'll try it tonight.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 14, 2022

“ESPN reporting with @Mcten: The Lakers are planning to bring Russell Westbrook off the bench in the final preseason game vs. Kings tonight (ESPN, 10 ET). Darvin Ham and Westbrook have been exploring possibility of Westbrook quarterbacking the second unit and they’ll try it tonight,” Wojnarowski wrote.

Westbrook may be fine with his new role, but he has a much bigger concern now. The veteran left the preseason finale with a hamstring injury. Doctors will evaluate his condition these days.