Officially signed! Hello, Lakers! Goodbye, Mavericks!

The Lakers officially confirmed the addition of Keller Kelly. According to earlier news,Kelly signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Lakers.

Kelly, born on August 26, 1997, is a 2.13-meter tall, 104-kilogram big center. An undrafted player from the 2020 class, he played last season for the Pelicans and Mavericks, featuring in 11 regular season games, averaging 11.5 minutes, 3.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and shooting 63.6% from the field.

Previously, he mainly competed in the NBA G League, representing the Spurs, Raptors, Celtics, and Lakers' affiliate teams. Last season, he appeared in 18 games for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 11.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, with a shooting accuracy of 66.9%.

Back to the point, Kelly’s contract is only an Exhibit-10 deal, which must be converted to a two-way contract before the start of the 25-26 regular season to qualify him to play in the Lakers’ official games. The preseason is a great chance for him to prove himself, with the schedule as follows:

October 4 vs Suns; October 6 vs Warriors; October 13 vs Warriors; October 15 vs Suns; October 16 vs Mavericks; October 18 vs Kings.

Currently, the Lakers have three big centers on the roster: Ayton, Hayes, and Kolok. This means Kelly faces intense competition, but he must give his all to create a chance for a breakthrough. Additionally, according to earlier sources, the Lakers have signed Eric Dixon, Christian Kolok, and Chris Mannon to two-way contracts, using up all three available two-way spots.

To be honest, the Lakers signing Kelly is likely just to fill out the roster. If he impresses, great; if not, he could be waived before the new season with no real loss. Regardless, he has been given an opportunity.

This offseason, the Lakers have bolstered their lineup by acquiring the 2018 first overall big man Ayton, 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Smart, and wing shooter LaRavia, achieving a comprehensive upgrade.As a result, the current odds for the Lakers winning the championship this season stand at +1400, ranking them seventh in the league., behind the Thunder, Rockets, Cavaliers, Knicks, Nuggets, and Timberwolves.