Drew Timme Joins Lakers on Two-Way Deal

Merlin sees the Lakers signing former Gonzaga star Drew Timme to a two-way deal from their G League club after he tore up the board early this season. With Deandre Ayton nursing a knee injury and Jaxson Hayes likely starting, Timme steps in as a high-skilled backup who’s already averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in six G League games — a move that matters for L.A.’s depth and late-game spacing. Merlin remembers Timme’s winding path — undrafted in 2023, short stints with Milwaukee, Sacramento, Brooklyn (12.1 and 7.2 in nine NBA minutes), a brief multi-year deal then a waiver — and smells potential. He’s a polished scorer who must prove he can defend and fit into an NBA rotation, but the minutes will be the true test.