National Basketball Association

Lakers Cut Zach Auguste and Two Others, Roster Stands At 17

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak sent three NBA hopefuls packing Wednesday morning after waiving Travis Wear, Julian Jacobs and Zach Auguste.

Of the three players waived by the Lakers, only Zach Auguste had a partially guaranteed contract worth $60,000, per Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders.

However, Auguste was the only player on the Lakers 20-man roster that didn’t see playing time in the team’s first four preseason games. Auguste suited up for the Purple and Gold in this year’s NBA Summer League, where he averaged 5.3 points and 4 rebounds per game in 15.8 minutes, complimenting Larry Nance Jr in the front court.

Don’t be surprised if Auguste ends up on Los Angeles’ D-League affiliate, the D-Fenders, for the remainder of the season, barring some lucrative offer overseas.

While Jacobs and Wear also didn’t do enough to earn a roster spot, their skill sets can be valuable elsewhere in the league.

Wear has the potential to be a stretch four for a team in need of spacing off the bench, and Jacob’s can provide a spark of the bench with his high energy defensive effort.

Wherever these players end up, we wish them the best.

The roster now stands at 17, meaning two more players have to be waived before the Lakers tipoff against the Houston Rockets on opening night, just two weeks from now.

With the way Nick Young has been playing as of late, it is likely his spot on the roster is safe, despite reports earlier this summer that hinted otherwise.

That leaves CBA All-Star Yi Jianlian, former No. 5 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Thomas Robinson, and defensive specialist, Metta World Peace to fight for the final spot.

Jianlian is the only player left with guaranteed money, and the way his contract can be a valuable trade chip for the Lakers, giving him the edge over World Peace and Robinson.

All three players will have a chance to prove themselves Thursday night when LA takes on the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas.