Lakers center Damian Jones, whose second 10-day contract with Los Angeles expired overnight, will not be kept in a deal for the rest of the season, according to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
Jones has equipped himself in eight competitions for the Lakers so far (including six games, with Marc Gasol removed due to the COVID-19 protocols). Woike notes that squad limitations have prevented Jones from getting more time with the club.
With the departure of Jones, the Lakers will have two open spots in the squad. This flexibility can be useful when looking for help in buying and selling markets like All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis remains out. The team may prefer to add a more experienced big man, like Andre Drummond, if the Cavaliers center is available in the acquisition market.
As Kevin Pelton of ESPN details, the Lakers are about $ 1.7 million below their hard limit, which will limit the amount of salary they can take on any business. Woike also mentioned that the hardcover was a consideration in the Lakers’ decision to leave Jones.
Jones, 25, spent his first three NBA seasons as an occasional player for some Warriors teams. He spent the entire 2019-20 season with the Hawks. This year, he recorded 14 games in Phoenix before heading to Los Angeles. He averaged 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 14.0 minutes in his eight competitions with LA