How can LA Lakers sign Quincy Olivari? Closer look at roster flexibility after Exhibit 10 deal player shines in preseason

Quincy Olivari turned heads on Friday following his performance for the LA Lakers against the Golden State Warriors. The undrafted rookie sizzled in the first half against the Dubs’ starting lineup. He had 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc, and added three rebounds and a steal in 19 minutes.

Olivari signed an Exhibit 10 contract, leaving him without a spot in the Lakers’ roster for the 2024-25 campaign. Each NBA team can only carry 15 regular contracts and three two-way deals, which the Lakers have already filled. So, GM Rob Pelinka must decide if the team wants to keep his services.

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Rob Pelinka will have to waive one of three players on two-way deals to sign Quincy Olivari

Colin Castleton, Christian Koloko and Armel Traore are the players on two-way contracts with the Lakers.

The team is reportedly high on Koloko’s upside, so Pelinka’s choice will likely be between Castleton and Traore. Both haven't made an impact in preseason as much as Olivari, so giving one of the two spots to the former Xavier guard would make sense.

Olivari could still play for the South Bay Lakers if Pelinka doesn’t make any move, but that leaves the door open for another team to sign him. If he stays with the Lakers' G League affiliate for at least 60 days, he earns a $75K bonus. That bonus becomes guaranteed if Pelinka converts his Exhibit 10 deal to a two-way contract.

The LA Lakers aren’t likely waiving one of their veterans on minimum contracts to accommodate Quincy Olivari. Neither is Pelinka likely to offload 2023 first-rounder Jalen Hood-Schifino or second-rounder Max Lewis for him.

The Lakers’ clearest and easiest path to retaining Olivari is to waive Colin Castleton or Armel Traore.

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Quincy Olivari just wants a job in the NBA

Quincy Olivari grabbed the limelight following the LA Lakers’ showdown against the Golden State Warriors. Despite LA's 132-74 loss to the Dubs, Olivari caught attention in the postgame conference.

The undrafted rookie said about his future in the NBA (via Dan Woike):

“I just want a job in the NBA. … I honestly don’t know what’s next.”

That job might come from the LA Lakers if Pelinka wants to see more of what Olivari can do. He could be on a two-way contract, allowing him to play up to 50 regular-season games with the Lakers. When not with the team, he could also spend time developing in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.