The Los Angeles Lakers waived center Christian Koloko on Monday, per ESPN's Shams Charania. They did so to clear a roster spot and sign Drew Timme to a two-way deal.
Timme had been impressing while playing for the Lakers' G League affiliate in South Bay. There, he was averaging 25.5 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
In college, he starred at Gonzaga University. However, the six-foot-10 center went undrafted. He latched on with the Brooklyn Nets late last season. He produced 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest in nine appearances, including two starts. Timme logged 28.2 minutes per game.
Now, the Texas native has secured another NBA contract, this time, on the opposite coast. His promotion forces Koloko to search for his next opportunity.
Should the Celtics sign Christian Koloko?
If both parties are open to Koloko joining the organization's G League affiliate in Maine, then perhaps it will come to fruition. However, he is likely to find better opportunities.
That's especially true with the Celtics' investment in second-round draft pick Amari Williams. The former Kentucky Wildcats star center is quickly impressing in the G League.
🚙 Amari Williams goes coast to coast and throws a dime to Kendall Brown for your Drive of the Game presented by @billdodgegmc pic.twitter.com/9Dx4YVsraX
— Maine Celtics (@MaineCeltics) November 24, 2025
As for the idea of Koloko signing with the parent club, that would come as a surprise. Boston is preserving its final roster spot, for now at least. It's a way to help maximize tax savings. As the team prioritizes gaining flexibility, a necessary pivot after consecutive campaigns over the second apron, changing course to acquire the 25-year-old center would come as a surprise.
The Douala, Cameroon native was a standout at the University of Arizona. His combination of size, standing seven-foot-one, and athleticism resulted in the Toronto Raptors selecting him with the third pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, after appearing in 58 games as a rookie, averaging 1.0 blocks per contest that season, he missed the entire 2023-24 campaign due to illness.
Koloko joined the Los Angeles Lakers the following summer. For an individual who played his high school ball in LA, it represented a homecoming.
In 37 appearances with the purple and gold, he registered 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds while logging 9.2 minutes per matchup. Koloko checked into two games with the Lakers this season for a total of 6:21 of floor time.
He's young enough and has a level of potential that could persuade a franchise to at least sign Koloko to a two-way deal. However, those three spots are spoken for with the Celtics. Those contracts belong to Williams, Max Shulga, and Ron Harper Jr. Don't expect that to change to make room for Koloko.