The Lakers waived Swider on Wednesday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
As an undrafted rookie out of Syracuse a season ago, Swider split time between the NBA and G League while serving as a two-way player for the Lakers. Only seven of his appearances came at the NBA level, with Swider averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per contest. In letting go of Swider, the Lakers are expected to sign undrafted rookie Alex Fudge to fill their third and final two-way spot.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Scores 26 in regular-season finale
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Swider registered 26 points (10-19 FG, 5-12 3PT, 1-2 FT) and nine rebounds in 26 minutes of Saturday's 120-96 win over the Ignite.
Swider posted a team-high 26 points Saturday, burying five triples and grabbing nine defensive rebounds in the blowout win. Swider has come into his own as of late, averaging 19.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game over his last seven appearances.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Silent Sunday
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Swider tallied eight points (3-7 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-2 FT), three assists and one rebound over 27 minutes of Sunday's 121-114 loss to Salt Lake City.
Swider struggled to find his typical impact Sunday, scoring in single digits for the fifth time in 25 regular-season appearances. He also buried just one of his five three-point attempts, which was uncharacteristic for the 43.5 percent three-point shooter.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Posts 31 points on 21 shots
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Swider logged 31 points (13-21 FG, 4-9 3PT, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, three steals and an assist over 36 minutes of Wednesday's 127-125 win over Sioux Falls.
Swider paced South Bay in the scoring column, marking his second 30-point outburst in his last five appearances. In 21 regular season games, Swider has averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.9 steals across 28.4 minutes.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Buries seven three-pointers
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Swider recorded 29 points (11-15 FG, 7-9 3PT), three rebounds, three assists and two steals across 33 minutes of Sunday's 124-102 win over the Mad Ants.
Swider was red-hot Sunday, shooting a blistering 73.3 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from beyond the arc. His 29 points marked a new season high while his two steals tied his previous best. In 12 regular season appearances, Swider has averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds across 26.2 minutes.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Assigned to G League
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The Lakers assigned Swider to the South Bay Lakers of the G League on Friday, Ryan Ward of LakersNation.com reports.
Swider won't be available for Saturday's matchup with the Warriors. However, he hasn't played double-digit minutes since Jan. 9, so his G League stint shouldn't affect Los Angeles' rotation.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Erupts for 25 points
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Swider logged 25 points (6-15 FG, 5-10 3PT, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, a steal and a block over 32 minutes of Saturday's 119-107 win over the Ignite.
Swider's 25 points notched a new season-high, as the 23-year-old saw an expanded workload with Scotty Pippen (concussion) and L.J. Figueroa (knee) sidelined. Although Swider has had a relatively quiet regular season, he should have ample time to get his footing with the pair of guards sidelined.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Posts 16 points off bench
Rotowire
Swider managed 16 points (6-12 FG, 3-8 3PT, 1-1 FT), five rebounds and one assist over 27 minutes of Friday's game against the G League Warriors.
Swider set new regular-season highs in minutes and rebounds while matching his previous best of 16 points. In six appearances, Swider has averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 rebounds across 23.6 minutes.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Plays 25 minutes Monday
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Swider posted six points (2-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt), five rebounds and three assists over 25 minutes during Monday's 122-109 loss to the Nuggets.
Swider entered Monday having played just four minutes across two NBA games, but he was pressed into extensive action against Denver for a shorthanded Lakers squad that was without LeBron James (ankle), Anthony Davis (foot), Troy Brown (quadriceps), Lonnie Walker (knee) and Austin Reaves (hamstring). Swider didn't drop any jaws with his performance, but he played fairly well, draining two of five attempts from three-point range and adding five boards along with three assists without committing a turnover. Swider seems destined to spend most of his time in the G League this season, but he could continue to see NBA opportunities until the Lakers get closer to full health.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Playing in G League
Rotowire
Swider (foot) made his season debut for the G League's South Bay Lakers on Thursday and has suited up in two games for the affiliate, averaging 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks in 18.7 minutes per contest.
One of the Lakers' two two-way players, Swider had been sidelined for nearly two months due to a navicular stress reaction in his right foot, an injury he suffered in Los Angeles' Oct. 18 season opener. The rookie big man will remain in the G League while the Lakers face the Wizards on Sunday, but once he gets ramped up at South Bay, Swider could be a candidate to join the parent club. The Lakers may have a need for some additional depth in the frontcourt with Anthony Davis (foot) expected to miss at least the next month.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Not available Friday
Rotowire
Swider (foot) won't suit up for the Lakers in Friday's game against the Spurs.
According to the NBA's official injury report, the Lakers list Swider as having been assigned to the G League, so the two-way rookie out of Syracuse looks like he'll make his return to the court with the South Bay Lakers whenever he's medically cleared from the broken right foot he suffered in his NBA debut Oct. 18. Even if the Lakers find themselves out of playoff contention by the second half of the season, Swider still may have difficulty cracking head coach Darvin Ham's rotation.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Wearing boot
Rotowire
Swider (foot) was seen wearing a walking boot at Saturday's practice, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.
Swider can certainly be ruled out for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers, but the Lakers have yet to release a timetable for his return. His next chance to play is Wednesday against the Nuggets.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Won't play Thursday
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Swider will miss Thursday's game against the Clippers due to right foot soreness, Mike Trudell of the Lakers' official site reports.
Swider logged just a pair of minutes in the opener and doesn't factor in much from a fantasy perspective, so his absence shouldn't cause waves on that front. His next chance to suit up surfaces Sunday against the Trail Blazers.
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Lakers' Cole Swider: Efficient outside shooting
Rotowire
Swider averaged 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in five Summer League games.
Swider shot the ball extremely well from the three-point line, eclipsing 50 percent on 7.6 attempts per game. Although it will be difficult for him to crack a veteran-heavy rotation as an undrafted rookie, his shooting prowess could be enough to earn minutes at some point this season. The Lakers will likely want to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with more shooters than last season, when they finished 22nd in three-point percentage and 18th in three-point makes. Austin Reaves received meaningful minutes last season as an undrafted rookie and Alex Caruso flourished as well a few seasons prior, so it is far from impossible.
