The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed guard Chris Manon to a two-way contract, according to a team press release reported by Khobi Price of The California Post. The 24-year-old wing, who went undrafted out of Vanderbilt in 2024, accepted a qualifying offer from the organization to secure his return for the upcoming season.
Why the Lakers prioritized Manon’s return
The decision to bring back Manon underscores the Lakers’ commitment to internal development within their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Despite logging only 46 minutes across nine NBA appearances during his rookie campaign, Manon established himself as a defensive anchor in the G League.
According to league data, Manon played 46 games for South Bay during the 2025/26 season, averaging 26.9 minutes per contest. His statistical impact was significant: 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. His defensive prowess earned him a selection to the G League’s All-Defensive team and a runner-up finish for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Chris Manon finished his G League season shooting .511 from the field, .315 from three-point range, and .737 from the free-throw line.
How the two-way roster structure is evolving
Manon’s signing occupies the first of three available two-way slots for the Lakers. The two-way contract format remains a vital tool for NBA teams to bridge the gap between developmental squads and the active roster, allowing players to move between the G League and the NBA without occupying a standard roster spot.
The front office is expected to finalize their full two-way complement shortly. Reports indicate that the team has reached agreements with Peter Suder and AK Okereke, both of whom joined the organization as undrafted free agents last week. Once those contracts are formally processed, the Lakers will have reached their limit of three two-way players.
Keep an eye on how these three prospects—Manon, Suder, and Okereke—perform during the NBA Summer League. Teams often use these windows to determine which two-way players might be candidates for standard roster conversions later in the season.
FAQ: Understanding two-way contracts
- What is a two-way contract? It is a deal that allows a player to provide services to both an NBA team and its G League affiliate. Players on these contracts have a cap on the number of games they can be active in the NBA.
- Who is Chris Manon? He is a 6’4″ guard who played collegiately at Vanderbilt before joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
- How many two-way spots do the Lakers have? The team is allotted three two-way roster spots per NBA regulations.
- Are the Lakers’ two-way spots full? With the signing of Manon and the reported agreements with Suder and Okereke, the team is set to reach its maximum capacity.
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