The 10-day carousel is over for Stanley Johnson. The Los Angeles Lakers will sign the 25-year-old forward to a two-year deal Thursday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The second year of the deal is expected to be a team option, so the Lakers can maintain flexibility for next year’s roster. Roster flexibility was the reason Johnson signed as many 10-day contracts as allowed before he gained the last spot on the 15-man roster.
Johnson has become a staple in the rotation and even started and closed the game against the Brooklyn Nets, the first game he played alongside Anthony Davis.
Also according to Wojnarowski, the Lakers tried making trades around the margins but ultimately settled for inking Johnson to a guaranteed spot:
Lakers had been discussing some two-for-one trades along the roster margins, but ultimately landed on keeping Johnson in 15th spot, especially because of his willingness to agree on a team option for year, per sources. That keeps some deal-making flexibility for LA this summer.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 26, 2022
DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore, who don’t contribute to the team anymore, are not likely to stay around much longer with the trade deadline and buyout market approaching. But the key thing for the Lakers is securing Johnson for the rest of the season since he’s become vital to their system.
