Lakers sign Carson Cooper to two-way deal, waive Lawson Lovering
Carlos Yakimowich
Host · Writer
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers signed center Carson Cooper to a two-way deal Tuesday, waiving two-way center Lawson Lovering to make room.
Cooper, 22, joins Los Angeles after appearing in one game for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center signed a two-way deal with Memphis to open the 2026-27 season.
In nine games (one start) in the Summer League for Memphis, Cooper averaged 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds on 57% shooting from the field
The Michigan native started all 35 games as a senior at Michigan State last season, averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game.
He shot 58.4% from the field and helped the Spartans reach the NCAA Sweet 16.
Cooper made 43 starts across 137 career college appearances, with 35 of those starts coming in his final season.
He finished his Michigan State career averaging 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game.
The move gives the Lakers a young prospect at center, a position L.A. lacks depth in with two true centers on their roster in Walker Kessler and Kevin Looney.
Lovering’s departure comes less than two weeks after he signed a two-way contract with L.A. on Oct. 28.
