After brief stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks last season, Kylor Kelley is back in the NBA as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers announced on Tuesday they signed Kelley to a deal. Terms of the agreement were not made available.
Updated Lakers 2025-26 Roster
If you include the players they brought back in free agency, Kelley is the fourth different center the Lakers have signed this offseason. Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko were re-signed, while Deandre Ayton was signed as a free agent after receiving a contract buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.
It’s no surprise that center is a position the Lakers have aggressively pursued. One of their biggest flaws in the first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was a lack of size in the paint.
LeBron James even made a “no comment” joke when he was asked about the team not having a true center following Los Angeles’ season-ending loss in Game 5.
While none of the players the Lakers have brought in figure to be major difference-makers, having a variety of options to choose from is a huge boost to head coach JJ Redick’s rotations going into the 2025-26 season.
Ayton and Hayes will likely be the top two centers for the Lakers. Kelley and Koloko could be vying for one of the final spots on the roster when training camp begins.
Kelley has bounced around various leagues around the world since going undrafted in 2021. He previously had a stint with the Lakers last season, appearing in 18 games with their G League club.
The Mavs signed Kelley to a two-way contract on Jan. 26 and he made his NBA debut the following day. He appeared in eight games before being waived on March 8.
Kelley went back to the South Bay Lakers for a month, then joined the Pelicans for the final two weeks of the regular season. The Oregon State alum averaged 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 11 appearances between Dallas and New Orleans.
