The Los Angeles Lakers look all set to compete for the 2026 NBA Championship.
Last season, the trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves helped the Los Angeles Lakers clinch the No. 3 seed in the competitive Western Conference.
However, the Lakers had obvious flaws in their roster as they suffered a first-round exit. Well, the Lakers have seemingly addressed those issues with the additions of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.
In addition, among the Lakers’ two-way signings for the 2025-26 season, Chris Manon seems to have the most incredible upside.
Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesWhat will Chris Manon bring to the LA Lakers?
Despite playing for the Golden State Warriors during the 2025 NBA Summer League, Manon ended up signing with the Lakers.
Manon recently admitted he never expected a call from the Lakers. But since he has signed with the team, the 23-year-old is now focused on making himself useful for the iconic franchise.
“I’m going to try and bring the energy every game and do the nasty, scrappy things no one else wants to do. Also, just making the right plays.” Manon said on the Lakers Legacy podcast.
He added: “Growing up playing basketball, I was always focused on winning, making the winning plays, 50-50 balls, and doing the little things, that’s what I can bring to the table.”
No wonder the Warriors fans were upset when Manon joined the Lakers. After all, the undrafted rookie sounds like a perfect piece on a title contender.
Chris Manon reveals he’s getting compared to Alex Caruso and Josh Hart
By no means are Alex Caruso and Josh Hart superstars in the NBA. But fans witnessed how Caruso aided the OKC Thunder win the 2025 NBA Championship, thanks to his brilliant two-way ability.
Hart fulfilled a similar role for the New York Knicks, who ended their Eastern Conference Finals drought of 25 years.
Although Manon is yet to make his NBA debut, the two-way signing recently claimed that he’s already getting compared to the above-mentioned veterans.
“My defensive ability, I have a knack of getting deflections and bothering people,” Manon confidently stated. “I would say right now some of the comparisons I’m getting is Alex Caruso type of guy, Josh Hart, some of those energy guys that can do the little things.”
If what Manon claimed turns out to be reality, the Lakers have hit the jackpot, as Caruso and Hart-type players have become extremely important in the modern era.