Armel Traore’s stint with the Lakers has officially ended—for now. The 22-year-old rookie played in just nine games for L.A., averaging 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 31.6%. Despite showing glimpses of potential, the Lakers decided to waive him on Friday, freeing up a two-way roster spot.
Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times reported the news, noting that if Traore clears waivers, the Lakers are interested in keeping him with their G League affiliate.
“The Lakers have signed G Jordan Goodwin to a two-way deal and waived F Armel Traore. Lakers like Traore and would have interest in keeping him in the building with their G-League team if he clears waivers. Lakers have need for G depth after Christie/Reddish/Knecht trades.”
It’s a logical move considering the Lakers’ recent roster changes. With Max Christie, Cam Reddish, and Dalton Knecht traded, the backcourt depth took a hit, making a two-way deal for Goodwin—an energetic defensive guard—a smart addition.
Traore’s Future Remains Unclear
Although his NBA minutes were limited, Traore performed well in the G League, averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 51.3% shooting over eight games.
Standing 6-foot-9 with a developing perimeter game (34.4% from three), he remains an intriguing prospect—one that at least one draft analyst sees as worth a serious look. Rich Stayman of No Ceilings shared his thoughts on Traore’s potential:
“Someone with lottery intentions should swoop up Armel Traore. I liked him a lot last summer.”
That might be a bit of a stretch—Traore is still raw and unlikely to crack an NBA rotation anytime soon—but it highlights the potential he brings. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, the Lakers would be more than happy to keep him in South Bay for further development.
For now, his future remains uncertain. The Lakers prioritized backcourt depth over another developmental forward, which is simply the nature of the business.
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard reacts to Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Lakers-Mavs trade
Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers made a few moves at the NBA trade deadline, but none as significant as their crosstown rivals, the Lakers, who landed Luka Dončić in exchange for Anthony Davis.
With Dončić now in Los Angeles, the Lakers are viewed as legitimate championship contenders despite parting ways with Davis and Max Christie.
Meanwhile, the Clippers reshaped their roster by trading away five players while bringing in four new additions. They sent Mo Bamba and P.J. Tucker to the Utah Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills. In a separate deal, they moved Terance Mann and Bones Hyland to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a package for scoring guard Bogdan Bogdanović. Their final move saw Kevin Porter Jr. traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for MarJon Beauchamp.
Despite these changes, the spotlight has remained on the blockbuster swap between the Lakers and Mavericks, with Dončić’s move to Los Angeles sending shockwaves across the league. After a recent Clippers game, Kawhi Leonard shared his thoughts on the Lakers’ acquisition of Dončić.
“I think it’s surprising, like everybody else said,” Kawhi Leonard said. “But we have to see how they look. We haven’t been able to see them play with those teams yet, and so we’ll have to figure that out once we see Luka playing with the Lakers and AD playing with the Mavericks.”
Luka Dončić has yet to make his highly anticipated debut for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the superstar guard is expected to suit up for the first time on Monday night against the Utah Jazz.
Before the trade, Dončić was putting up stellar numbers for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in 22 appearances this season.
However, questions remain about how he will fit into the Lakers’ system, especially after the team’s attempt to acquire a premier center fell through. General Manager Rob Pelinka had discussions with Dončić about optimizing his playing style and subsequently made a move for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.
That trade, however, was rescinded due to medical concerns involving Williams. As a result, Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish will remain with the Lakers, while Williams returns to Charlotte.
