Lakers Rumors: Matt Ryan Makes Team's Opening-Day Roster After Strong Preseason

The Los Angeles Lakers are going to keep Matt Ryan on their opening-day roster following a strong showing this preseason.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Ryan is going to make the final roster because he won't be waived before Saturday's cut deadline at 5 p.m. ET.

Ryan has bounced around the NBA since going undrafted out of Chattanooga in 2020. He has spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics and the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League.

The Lakers signed Ryan as a free agent in September. He didn't play in their preseason opener on Oct. 3 against the Sacramento Kings.

Over the final five preseason games, Ryan was one of the most productive players off the bench for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. The 25-year-old averaged 8.2 points and shot 37.5 percent from three-point range on 24 attempts.

Ryan had a standout performance in the Lakers' lone preseason victory. He dropped 20 points in 20 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting from behind the arc in a 124-121 win over the Golden State Warriors.

One of the biggest questions for the Lakers going into the regular season is their lack of three-point shooting. LeBron James is the top shooter from behind the arc returning from last year's team. Malik Monk, Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony and Kent Bazemore are all free agents or signed with a new team in the offseason.

Kendrick Nunn will help in that area if he can stay healthy. There aren't a lot of viable options after him. Ryan will likely only be counted on to provide shooting help, but if he can do that efficiently, the Lakers are going to be thrilled.

Ryan's only appearance in an NBA game was in the Celtics' regular-season finale on April 10. He scored three points in five minutes off the bench in a 139-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers will open the regular season on Oct. 18 against the Warriors at Chase Center.