After the loss of Anthony Davis last season, the Los Angeles Lakers swore they were going to focus on acquiring more big man talent to help their frontcourt.
They were obviously serious about that.
On Monday, the team announced that they had signed center Kylor Kelley to an Exhibit 10 contract, via Spectrum SportsNet.
This is just the latest acquisition that should help the Lakers stay strong and defense-minded in the new season.
OFFICIAL: The Lakers announced they have signed center Kylor Kelley. pic.twitter.com/QyePdKI37G
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) August 26, 2025
NBA fans haven’t seen a lot of Kelley lately, who spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.
Between those two teams, he averaged 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds on 63.6 percent from the field.
Will he make an appearance with the Lakers in 2025-26?
That’s still up in the air, but this Exhibit 10 contract means he will join the team at training camp and can fight for his spot in the lineup.
If he gets waived before the regular season, the Lakers will also hold onto his G League rights.
Kelley is seven feet tall and just 28 years old, which means there is a lot of youth and size in his game.
That is exactly what the Lakers want.
Their defense was severely harmed when they lost Davis, and they spent the second half of last season floundering on the frontcourt.
They got to work right away during the summer and eventually added Deandre Ayton, who could be a huge hero for the team in the new year.
The front office knows they need more than just Ayton, however, and that is why they have been looking for extra backup.
That is what Kelley will be if he gets any minutes during the season.
We don’t know if we will see Kelley play for the Lakers or if he will be relegated to the G League.
But he’s caught the eye of one of the biggest teams in the NBA, and that is surely a good thing for his career.
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