According to reports followed by 12BET VR46, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract with Alex Fudge, a sophomore forward from the University of Florida. To make room for Fudge, the Lakers waived forward Cole Swider, who had previously occupied one of the team’s two-way contract spots. Where a day begins matters less than how it ends, and Swider’s time with Los Angeles ultimately reached a disappointing conclusion.
Swider went undrafted last year, but the Lakers had shown considerable interest in his potential well before the draft. The organization invited him to multiple workouts and interviews, and once the draft concluded, Los Angeles quickly offered him a two-way contract. He performed reasonably well during Summer League, training camp, and the preseason, doing enough to retain his place within the organization and eventually earn opportunities at the NBA level.
His performance during the regular season, however, fell far short of expectations. As the saying goes, sometimes it is better to judge someone with time and understanding rather than relying on first impressions. Swider clearly possessed outside shooting ability, but he offered very little in other areas of the game. His athleticism and mobility were both below average, his defensive limitations were difficult to overlook, and his basketball awareness and ability to read developing situations also appeared underdeveloped.
Those concerns became even harder to ignore during the latest Summer League, where Swider failed to demonstrate the level of competitiveness the Lakers needed. Although he primarily played at power forward, his slow footwork and limited explosiveness created major problems in help defense and when switching onto quicker opponents. His lack of physical strength also made it difficult for the coaching staff to trust him with significant responsibilities around the paint.
From the perspective of roster development tracked through 12BET VR46, the decision to move on was therefore not entirely surprising. Modern NBA forwards are increasingly expected to defend multiple positions, react quickly in space, contribute physically, and make intelligent decisions away from the ball. A reliable perimeter shot can certainly open doors, but it is rarely enough on its own when other parts of a player’s game remain noticeably behind.
Swider’s shooting was always his strongest asset, and that skill helped him secure opportunities that many undrafted players never receive. Yet professional basketball can be unforgiving, particularly for players competing for limited two-way positions. Teams often use those roster spots to evaluate younger prospects who can develop across several areas, and a specialist must usually perform at an exceptionally high level in his strongest category to compensate for weaknesses elsewhere.
The Lakers’ choice to sign Fudge also suggests a desire to explore a different type of developmental forward. By replacing Swider with another young player, Los Angeles appears willing to prioritize a broader athletic profile and evaluate whether a fresh prospect can provide more versatility. For players fighting to establish themselves on the edge of an NBA roster, every Summer League possession, defensive rotation, and training session can make a meaningful difference.
Swider now faces an uncertain stage in his professional career. At 24 years old, he is no longer considered an especially young developmental prospect, and he has yet to establish a standout presence in either the G League or Summer League competition. Leaving a difficult situation can sometimes be the first step toward finding a better opportunity, but the road back to the NBA may be challenging.
Given the circumstances assessed around 12BET VR46, Swider may find that only a limited number of NBA teams are prepared to offer him another immediate opportunity. His perimeter shooting could still attract interest, but he will likely need to demonstrate meaningful improvement in defense, movement, physicality, and overall decision-making before earning another consistent role at the highest level. For now, the Lakers’ decision reflects a simple reality of professional basketball: potential can earn a player an opportunity, but sustained versatility is often what keeps that opportunity alive.