Lakers signs first-round pick to a two-way deal by the Lakers

Agent Daniel Hazan of The Athletic and Stadium informs Shams Charania of The Lakers that big player Harry Giles, a free agent, is inking a two-way contract.

Due to injuries to two-way center Colin Castleton (fractured right wrist) and Christian Wood (knee swelling), Charania notes that the Lakers are a touch thin in the frontcourt. As a rookie this season, Castleton hasn’t been in the rotation, but it’s possible that with Wood down, he got a chance.

Dylan Windler, Skylar Mays, and Castleton are all on two-way contracts with L.A. at the moment. Given his injury, Castleton seems to be the most likely candidate to be released, but that is just conjecture on my part.

Giles, a previous first-round selection, missed two complete seasons of the NBA because of knee issues before making a comeback in 2023–24. He signed a minimum-wage, non-guaranteed contract with the Nets in order to secure a spot on the team’s roster for the regular season. When he stayed on the roster through January 7, his whole salary was guaranteed.

Giles only made 16 appearances in 16 games while averaging 5.1 minutes per night while playing in Brooklyn. In his little playing time, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest.

The 25-year-old center/forward was waived by the Nets last month in order to finalize a trade before the deadline, making him a casualty of the roster.

As our glossary section on two-way contracts demonstrates, the players’ union and the league decided to enact what is often referred to as the “Harry Giles rule” in the 2023 CBA. Giles had been on the NBA roster for four seasons prior to signing with Brooklyn, but he had only actually participated in three regular season NBA games because he was injured during his debut season in 2017–18.

Giles and any other player who has played in the NBA for four seasons but has missed one or more of those seasons due to injury are eligible to sign a two-way deal under the new rule, provided they fulfill specific requirements. Windler was also able to ink two-way contracts with the Knicks and Lakers in this manner.