The Los Angeles Lakers announced that they have signed forward Arthur Kaluma to a two-way contract for the 2026-27 season, waiving guard Peter Suder to complete the transaction.
Kaluma, 24, was an undrafted free agent who was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract by the Lakers last summer. Kaluma played two years at Creighton and one year at Kansas State before completing his college career at the University of Texas in 2024-25. Kaluma’s remarkable showing at NBA Summer League — mixed with a strong year for the South Bay Lakers last season — led to this signing.
The forward averaged 18.6 points per game on 60.9% shooting from the field and 50% shooting from 3 in the Las Vegas Summer League. Last season in South Bay, Kaluma appeared in 34 games averaging 14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 54.5% from the field and 36.4% from 3-point range.
He joins AK Okereke and Chris Mañon as the Lakers’ two-way players for the 2026-27 season. All three hope to get opportunities with the parent club, as the team is still searching for quality depth pieces behind Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
The Lakers waived Suder to complete the transaction. Suder, 22, split his four college seasons with Bellarmine University and Miami (Ohio) in the MAC. The hot-shooting guard did not play particularly well at Summer League, ultimately getting a DNP-coach’s decision in the team’s final game against the Golden State Warriors in the semifinals.
Suder also does not particularly fit any of the archetypes needed by the current Lakers team, making it easiest to cut ties with him over Okereke and Mañon. If he does not land another two-way contract elsewhere then perhaps the Lakers are able to keep him on their G League team for the 2026-27 season.
Kaluma will wear No. 47 for the Purple and Gold.
Arthurd Kaluma discusses breakout Summer League for Lakers
Kaluma had one breakout performance, in particular, that turned heads in the Las Vegas Summer League. He scored 34 points against the Dallas Mavericks, a game that helped land him this new contract.
After that win, he discussed the work he has put in and the areas he has improved to get to this point.
“I feel like I’ve been able to move my feet a lot better on defense, my shot obviously feels good,” Kaluma said. “But my understanding of the game after having a year of it under my belt, I feel a lot more comfortable out there.”
Kaluma will now get to continue his development in the Lakers organization for another year.
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