The Los Angeles Lakers sign LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison. The team also announced they have requested waivers for guards Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy, to make way for the new additions.
New Additions
Figueroa went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. He joined The Dallas Mavericks for Summer League that same year. But his contract with the team was not extended beyond that point.
He spent the rest of the summer playing for the Leones de Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Figueroa helped the team win the LNB championship.
He then joined the Golden State Warriors on Oct 13, 2021. He was placed on waivers three days later. Then he signed with the Warriors G League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors. During the 2021-22, Figueroa appeared in 32 games and averaged 16.6, 8.0 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game.
Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft out of the University of Tulsa. He signed with the Phoenix Suns in 2016, but was waived soon after. He was, however, signed by the Suns G league team, the Northern Arizona Suns.
His NBA debut came in 2018, when the Suns signed him to a 10-day contract.
Harrison has spent five years in the NBA as a journeyman. He has played for the Suns, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets and now the Lakers.
He spent most of last season with the Nets G League team, the Long Island Nets. Where he averaged 12.6 points, 5.9 assists and 31.1 minutes a game.
Both players have size, athleticism and defensive skills to add to the roster.
Who is out?
In order to make room for Figueroa and Harrison, the Lakers had to cut Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy.
Bacon was the 40 pick in the 2017 draft. He was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans, but was traded that same night to the Charlotte Hornets.
He spent five years in the NBA, playing the majority of his career with the Hornets. After leaving the Hornets, he signed with the Orlando Magic. The Magic waived him in August of 2021, before being picked up by the New York Knicks.
Last season, Bacon spent the year with the AS Monaco Basket in the Euroleague.
McCoy went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft. He signed with the Lakers on July 24, 2022.
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