15 on Lakers Roster to Start the Season

The Lakers considered carrying just 13 players early on in training camp, but now DJ Mbenga has earned a roster spot and Coby Karl is being pushed aside for rookie guard Joe Crawford. So it looks like the Lakers will open the season with 15 players, the maximum amount permitted by the NBA. Had the Lakers chosen to cap the roster at 13 they would have been able to pick up another player or two during regular season play. The team has made the decision to add two more players to the roster based on their play in training camp. Backup center Mbenga earned a spot and rookie guard Crawford got the nod over Karl, who was added to the team as an undrafted rookie free agent last season.

The Lakers currently have 13 players under contract who have a guaranteed spot on the team and guard Brandon Heath and forward C.J. Giles are hoping for a coveted spot as well. Crawford was drafted in the second round by the Lakers out of Kentucky with the 58th pick in the draft and in order for his contract to be guaranteed the 6-foot-5 shooting guard has to make the team. If Crawford, who has played in all three exhibition games and averaged 8.3 minutes and 2.7 points, doesn’t make the team, he will most likely play in the NBA Development Leauge for the Lakers’ D-Fenders team.

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