The Lakers continue to make moves around the edges of their roster as they prepare for Summer League and training camp, this time electing to retain control of one of the organization’s most intriguing defensive prospects, Chris Manon.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Lakers have extended a two-way qualifying offer to Chris Manon, making him a restricted free agent. This gives Los Angeles the ability to match outside offers while preserving flexibility as the front office evaluates its final two-way roster spot.
The Los Angeles Lakers have tendered a two-way qualifying offer to Chris Manon, a league source told @spotrac.
Manon will now be a restricted free agent this summer.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 28, 2026
While much of the offseason attention has centered on potential veteran additions and the search for another center, the Lakers have quietly continued shaping the bottom of their roster through two-way contracts and Exhibit 10 signings.
Breakout G League Season
Although Manon saw limited opportunities with the Lakers during his rookie year, he emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
The 24-year-old appeared in 46 games for South Bay, averaging 11.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.1 steals while shooting over 51 percent from the field. His defensive impact stood out even more than the box score, as he recorded 97 steals during the season, earned G League First Team All-Defense honors, and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Manon is still improving on offense, especially as a three-point shooter. He made only 31.5 percent of his attempts. Still, his ability to pressure ball handlers, force turnovers, and guard multiple positions makes him a valuable player for the Lakers to develop.
The Final Two-Way Contract
The qualifying offer does not mean Manon will definitely return on a two-way contract. It simply allows the Lakers to retain his rights while they evaluate other options during the offseason.
Los Angeles has already used two of its three two-way contract spots by signing forward AK Okereke and guard Peter Suder after the NBA Draft. They also added several Exhibit 10 players, like Robbie Avila and William Kyle III, which adds more competition before Summer League and training camp.
That leaves Manon competing for what currently appears to be the final available two-way position.
Summer League Could Decide His Future
Summer League will likely be important in deciding who gets the last roster spot. Manon should have a good chance to show the defensive energy that made him one of the G League’s top defenders, and to show he has improved on offense.
For Manon, the next steps are clear. His defense has already stood out in the G League. If he can show more improvement on offense during Summer League and training camp, the Lakers might choose him for their last two-way contract next season.
