The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Jahmir Young to an Exhibit 10 contract Wednesday and waived forward Cole Swider in a corresponding move.
The 26-year-old Young, who played for the Miami Heat last season, will work with coach JJ Redick’s staff as the Lakers prepare for their final preseason game Friday against the Denver Nuggets.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike confirmed the contract details after the team announced the transaction.
Young’s opportunity with the Lakers developed after the organization’s G League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Lakers, acquired his returning-player rights from the Sioux Falls Skyforce in September.
Coachella Valley sent the rights to 7-foot center Kylor Kelley and a 2027 G League first-round pick to Sioux Falls in the deal.
The former Maryland player averaged 26.0 points, 8.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 25 regular-season G League games last season and earned All-NBA G League Second Team honors.
Across 31 total appearances for Sioux Falls, including games outside the regular-season schedule, Young averaged 25.9 points, 8.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He also received G League Player of the Month recognition for January after averaging 29.5 points and 9.7 assists.
Young appeared in 14 NBA games with Miami last season and averaged 1.8 points in limited minutes. The Heat declined his $2.41 million team option in June, making him available.
His Exhibit 10 agreement is a non-guaranteed training-camp contract. If Young does not make the Lakers’ NBA roster, the deal can lead to a role with Coachella Valley and a potential bonus for time spent in the G League.
The signing adds another ballhandler while Redick evaluates backcourt options. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Collin Sexton are expected to handle much of the offensive creation, with Bronny James, Jaden Hardy and Chris Mañon also considered for minutes.
Young’s scoring and playmaking production in the G League made him an attractive developmental prospect for an organization still sorting its depth.
The move came at Swider’s expense. The 27-year-old forward had returned to Los Angeles on an Exhibit 10 contract in September after the Lakers originally gave him his first NBA deal in 2022.
Swider appeared in three preseason games. Against Golden State on Oct. 6, he scored nine points and made three of four 3-point attempts.
The Lakers ultimately chose to use the training-camp spot on another guard after reviewing his preseason contributions.
The transaction follows last week’s signing of big man Rafael Castro and the waiver of William Kyle III, another adjustment among players competing for developmental opportunities.
Neither move resolves the Lakers’ larger roster questions. Los Angeles still faces decisions involving guaranteed contracts before the NBA’s Oct. 19 deadline.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that the team has explored trades as general manager Rob Pelinka looks for ways to finalize the roster without unnecessarily sacrificing assets.
For Young, Wednesday marks a step forward after the Lakers first invested in his rights through the September G League trade. He now has a chance to show what he can do in their environment.
