The Los Angeles Lakers have added forwards Cole Swider and William Kyle III while waiving guards Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross.
The Lakers announced the moves Sunday, September 27, as the team continued to finalize its roster ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Johnson and Ross had both signed with Los Angeles on September 18.
Kyle, 23, stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 230 pounds. He started all 32 games for Syracuse during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 2.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game.
The forward led the ACC in both total blocks and blocks per game during the regular season. He shot 66.1% from the field while also averaging 2.8 offensive rebounds and 4.3 defensive rebounds.
Kyle began his college career at South Dakota State before transferring to UCLA for the 2024-25 season and then Syracuse for his final collegiate campaign. He averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds at South Dakota State in 2023-24 before taking on a smaller role at UCLA.
Swider, meanwhile, returns to the Lakers after previously spending the 2022-23 season with the organization as a two-way player. The 27-year-old appeared in seven NBA games that season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebound in 5.9 minutes per game.
Swider also played 31 games for the South Bay Lakers that season, averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 42.9% from three-point range.
The 6-foot-8 forward has since gained additional professional experience with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors, along with several G League teams. Most recently, he played for Anadolu Efes in Turkey during the 2025-26 season.
Swider appeared in 21 games for Efes, including three starts, and averaged 7.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.9 minutes. He shot 35.6% from three-point range and 85.7% from the free-throw line.
The Lakers enter the 2026-27 season with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as their primary offensive pieces after a significant offseason reshaping. Los Angeles acquired Walker Kessler on a four-year, $129.5 million deal and also added Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams.
The team also traded Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks.
