NBA | Matt Ryan : Lakers will release former DoorDash driver and sharpshooter

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers have released veteran shooter Matt Ryan. When the Los Angeles Lakers were behind by one point with time running out in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans, Ryan hit a 3-pointer to tie the game and force overtime. Later in the game, the Lakers would end up victorious. When Ryan was given a smaller role with the Lakers, he shot 38.2 percent from deep.

Ryan’s odd background made him an immediate hit with Lakers fans. After going undrafted out of college, Ryan did odd jobs including driving for DoorDash and working as a cemetery groundskeeper to make ends meet. He was briefly a member of the Celtics’ roster last year before finding a home in Los Angeles.

Matt Ryan

Since Ryan’s contract was not guaranteed, the Lakers could release him without incurring any financial penalty. The decision to release him leaves open the subject of who will take his roster slot. Now that they have an open roster position, they may engage in a lopsided deal in which they acquire new players while releasing just one. Clearly, this is reminiscent of the alleged trade involving Russell Westbrook, Buddy Hield, and Myles Turner with the Indiana Pacers.

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Likely, the Lakers are releasing Ryan so that they have cap space to acquire another free agent or to make a trade before the market heats up. Trades begin around the 15th of December since free agents who signed contracts this offseason are become free agents. The addition of a roster slot allows the Lakers some leeway in this regard, albeit at the price of Ryan’s playing time.