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The Los Angeles Lakers face a Monday deadline to cut their roster from 16 players on standard deals down to the league-mandated 15. The team wrapped its five-game preseason slate and now turns its attention to Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors.
Los Angeles got a head start on that roster math over the weekend. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers waived center Rafael Castro and forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, both of whom joined the club during training camp on preseason deals.
Castro’s Brief Stint With Los Angeles
Castro stands 6-foot-11 and went undrafted this past June out of George Washington University. His time with the Lakers was limited to two preseason appearances, where he logged 16 minutes total, scoring two points on 1-of-3 shooting while grabbing five rebounds, dishing one assist and blocking one shot.
His collegiate production painted a different picture. Last season at George Washington, Castro averaged 15.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, numbers that earned him early interest from NBA front offices. Shortly after going undrafted, he signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, then inked another two-way deal with the Houston Rockets in late August before eventually landing with Los Angeles on a preseason invite.
Tait-Jones Brings International Pedigree
Tait-Jones, a native of New Zealand, arrives with a different résumé. He spent last season overseas in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, suiting up for Valmiera Glass VIA. That campaign ended with a league championship and individual hardware, as Tait-Jones took home the league’s Finals MVP award.
The 6-foot-6 wing went undrafted in 2025 after a college career split between two stops. He played two seasons at the University of California, San Diego following three seasons at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, giving him five years of collegiate experience before testing the professional ranks.
What Comes Next
Neither cut comes as a surprise given the numbers Los Angeles needed to manage before the regular season tips off. Both players entered camp on non-guaranteed preseason contracts, a common roster-building tool teams use to evaluate fringe talent without long-term commitment.
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With the move, the Lakers inch closer to the 15-man limit required by Wednesday’s opener. Stick with TipsGG for continued coverage of Lakers roster decisions and the latest NBA transaction news.