Lakers Rumors: Zach Norvell Agrees to Contract After Going Undrafted
The Los Angeles Lakers and former Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell agreed to a two-way NBA contract Friday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Norvell entered the 2019 NBA draft after his sophomore season, but he was not selected on Thursday.
Following the acquisition of Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, Norvell is a low-cost signing who can help fill out the bottom part of L.A.'s roster if he makes the team.
The 21-year-old Norvell was overshadowed at times by Gonzaga teammates Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke, who were both drafted in the first round on Thursday, but he was still a highly productive player who helped lead the Zags to the Sweet 16 in 2018 and an Elite Eight appearance this year.
Norvell was named the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2017-18 and was then named to the 2018-19 All-WCC First Team.
Last season, Norvell averaged 14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from three-point range. Norvell also knocked down 2.6 treys per contest.
On draft night, the Lakers traded into the No. 46 overall spot to select Iowa State small forward Talen Horton-Tucker. Both Norvell and Horton-Tucker stand a good chance of making the roster since there is a severe lack of depth around LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma and Davis.
L.A. has the cap space to sign another key player or two in free agency and can fill out the rest of the roster with veteran minimum players, but as things stand right now, Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga are the only potential role players under contract.
Given his ability to knock down threes, which is something the Lakers need around James, Davis and Kuzma, Norvell looks like an ideal fit in Los Angeles as an undrafted free-agent signing.
