Lakers Sign Drew Timme to Two-Way Deal, Waive Christian Koloko

The Los Angeles Lakers have made an early-season roster adjustment, signing forward Drew Timme to a two-way contract while parting ways with center Christian Koloko. The move reinforces the Lakers’ developmental pipeline, bringing in a productive and seasoned G League performer in Timme.

Timme joins the Lakers after an impressive stretch with the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament. The 6’10” forward appeared in six games—all starts—and averaged a team-high 25.5 points, along with 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 25.5 minutes. He scored in double digits in each game and recorded four outings with 20 points or more. His explosive start earned him the NBA G League Player of the Week award for the span of Nov. 7 through Nov. 16, during which he led South Bay to a 3-0 start while putting up 30.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest.

Across three G League seasons, Timme has built a strong résumé. Between stints with South Bay (2025-26), Long Island and Stockton (2024-25), and Wisconsin (2023-24), he has logged 76 career regular-season and Tip-Off Tournament starts, averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.5 minutes. He also gained NBA experience with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024-25 season, appearing in nine regular season games—two as a starter—and averaging 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 28.2 minutes.

Before turning professional, Timme starred at Gonzaga University from 2019 to 2023. Over 134 games, he averaged 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists while becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer. His standout senior season earned him First Team All-American honors and the WCC Player of the Year award. He will suit up in jersey No. 17 for the Lakers.

To open the roster spot for Timme, the Lakers waived Christian Koloko, who originally signed a two-way contract with the team on Sept. 16, 2024. The young center appeared in 37 regular season games during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.2 minutes. His departure marks the team’s decision to bolster its frontcourt depth with a more offensively polished option.

With Timme’s scoring punch and playmaking touch, the Lakers hope to inject new energy into their developmental rotation while strengthening their long-term talent pool.