With the 2025/26 NBA season set to begin on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers have made their final preseason adjustments, parting ways with four players as they prepare for opening night.
The Lakers announced on Saturday that they had waived RJ Davis, Anton Watson, Augustas Marciulionis and Nate Williams.
The moves were expected as the team needed to cut down its training camp roster to meet the league’s limit of 15 standard players and three two-way contracts.
After the latest transactions, Los Angeles now sits at 14 standard contracts and three two-way deals, leaving one open roster spot heading into the regular season.
While none of the players released were projected to make the final rotation, each could remain in the organization through the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Davis and Marciulionis were poised to enter their rookie years, while Watson appeared last season in limited action with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Williams, meanwhile, has logged three NBA seasons, one with the Portland Trail Blazers and two with the Houston Rockets.
Lakers shuffle their roster as injuries add uncertainty
The Lakers wrapped up their preseason schedule with a narrow 117-116 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday, a game that highlighted both their offensive potential and lingering depth concerns. The team will open the regular season at home on October 21 against the Golden State Warriors, but they are already dealing with key absences.
LeBron James will miss the opener due to a nerve injury, according to team officials. The Lakers are also awaiting further evaluation on backup center Jaxson Hayes, who injured his wrist against the Kings. The early-season health challenges could force head coach JJ Redick to get creative with his rotations, especially in the frontcourt.
Redick, who is entering his first season as an NBA head coach, has been non-committal about his starting lineup for opening night.
However, he acknowledged the potential advantages of pairing guard Gabe Vincent with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura, a group that offers both perimeter spacing and defensive balance.
“In that lineup, there’s a lot of shooting around Luka and DA [Deandre Ayton], and Gabe is another ball-handler, another tough defender,” Redick said. “I think he fits in well, but you have to take a look at every matchup we play against, and you have to make a decision.”
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