The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing to build depth for the future, announcing the re-signing of guard Chris Mañon to a two-way contract while also adding guard Peter Suder and forward AK Okereke on two-way deals ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Mañon returns to the organization after splitting time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, during the 2025-26 campaign. The 24-year-old appeared in nine games for Los Angeles and played a pivotal role for South Bay, averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a team-best 1.9 steals across 33 regular-season contests, including 26 starts.
Known for his defensive prowess, Mañon earned a spot on the NBA G League All-Defensive Team and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also led the league with 2.6 steals per game during the Tip-Off Tournament while averaging 1.5 blocks. His efforts helped guide South Bay to the top overall seed in the Western Conference with a 26-10 record.
A native of New Milford, New Jersey, Mañon played collegiately at both Cornell University and Vanderbilt University.
The Lakers also signed Peter Suder, a 6-foot-5 guard who is coming off a standout season at Miami University. Suder averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 33 starts while shooting an impressive 54.6 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc.
The Carmel, Indiana, native was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and earned First Team All-MAC honors after helping the RedHawks complete a perfect 31-0 regular season. Before transferring to Miami, Suder spent two seasons at Bellarmine University. Over 130 collegiate games, all starts, he averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals.
Suder will wear No. 35 for the Purple and Gold and is expected to participate with the Lakers’ 2026 Summer League squad.
Joining him is 6-foot-7 forward AK Okereke, who arrives after a strong graduate season at Vanderbilt. The 23-year-old averaged 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 40 percent from three-point range, helping the Commodores reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Prior to Vanderbilt, Okereke spent three seasons at Cornell, where he evolved from a walk-on into an All-Ivy League performer. During his junior season in 2024-25, the Clovis, California, native averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 59.5 percent from the field, leading the Ivy League and ranking among the nation’s top shooters.
Okereke will wear No. 31 for the Lakers and is also a member of the team’s 2026 Summer League roster.
With the trio of two-way contracts, the Lakers continue to invest in young, versatile talent as the franchise looks to strengthen its developmental pipeline heading into the new season.
