Lakers sign Alex Caruso to two-year deal on two-way contract

Las Vegas Summer League did not just provide a platform for Lonzo Ball to show early retus on his NBA potential. It also gave Alex Caruso a setting to convince the Lakers to keep him.

The Lakers and Caruso agreed to a two-year deal on a two-way contract, a new mechanism that allows NBA teams and their Development League affiliates to split the costs depending on to what extent each team has a player on its roster.

Caruso can spend up to 45 days with the Lakers, not including any time prior to the start of the South Bay Lakers’ training camp or after the G-League season ends. The Lakers can field as many as 15 players on their regular-season roster as well as two additional players on two-way contracts.

“This is an ideal situation for Alex, that gives him a great chance to play in the NBA,” said Caruso’s agent, Greg Lawrence of Wasserman Media Group. “Alex can continue his development under Luke [Walton] and his coaching staff and will benefit from the resources and relationship shared between the Lakers and the South Bay Lakers.”

Caruso caught the Lakers’ attention in Summer League with his hustle, playmaking and ability to thrive as the Lakers’ starting point guard while Ball nursed a sore right groin during Monday’s game against Sacramento. Caruso posted 18 points while shooting 7 of 9 from the field and 4 of 5 from 3-point range and posting nine assists and four steals in 30 minutes. Through four games, Caruso also averaged 6.5 points on 50 percent shooting and 3.3 assists in 17.5 minutes.

The Lakers had become enamored with Caruso’s hustle and steady presence when he played last year for the Oklahoma City Blue of the G-League. Caruso averaged 11.9 points while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range, adding 5.22 assists and 2.16 steals per game. After starring for four years at Texas A&M, Caruso joined the Oklahoma City Thunder to open 2016 training camp before being waived Oct. 17.

The Lakers have 11 players under contract for their regular-season roster, which does not count Caruso’s signing since he is a two-way player. The Lakers will sign free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million deal once second-year guard David Nwaba clears waivers. The Lakers have yet to sign No. 42 pick Thomas Bryant, who could be another candidate the Lakers sign on a two-way contract.

Under the first season the NBA has implemented the new mechanism, only players with four or fewer years of NBA experience are eligible to sign two-way contracts for a maximum of two seasons.

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