Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma have all had excellent showings for the Los Angeles Lakers in Summer League. An unexpected name who became a fan favorite was point guard Alex Caruso.
Caruso really came to the forefront in the Lakers’ third game of Summer League when Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, and Josh Hart all sat out. Caruso stepped up in a big way, finishing with 18 points, nine assists, and four steals in leading the Lakers to their first victory of Summer League.
His shooting and hustle plays have stood out to fans and the organization has taken notice as well. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne the Lakers have signed Caruso to a two-year, two-way contract:
The Lakers are signing Alex Caruso, their summer league sensation, to a two year deal. It’ll be a two-way contract so he can also develop in the GLeague.
The two-way contract is a new addition to the NBA that allows teams to develop players in the G-League while not taking up a roster spot. Players on two-way contracts can spend up to 45 days with the team while the rest of the time will be spent in the G-League. For Caruso this means most of his time will be with the South Bay Lakers, developing his game.
When the Summer League began, Caruso was an afterthought but his impressive performance has led him to land a contract with the team. This is the main point of Summer League for undrafted players like Caruso and he took advantage of the opportunity he was given.
For the summer, Caruso has averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in four games. The Lakers continue their quest for a Summer League championship when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers later tonight.