Eric Dixon seemed to be on the verge of joining the Lakers with a two-way deal after going undrafted, but a foot injury has put things on hold. The former Villanova standout, who was making a name for himself, didn’t play during the Las Vegas Summer League, which raised some eyebrows.
According to Dan Woike from The Athletic, Dixon has been seeking advice from medical professionals to determine the best way to address his foot issue. The Lakers appear to be cautious about his situation as he heads into what would be his rookie season.
Given the injury, it seems that Dixon might not end up signing that two-way contract after all. Trevor Lane from Lakers Nation discussed this on a recent podcast, clarifying that Dixon has not officially signed with the team. “My understanding is that he was unlikely to get that two-way contract because of the injury,” Lane noted. He mentioned seeing Dixon on a scooter at Summer League, which suggests that things aren’t looking too good right now.
While it might seem like the door is closing, Lane suggested Dixon still can find a spot in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, which could eventually lead to a two-way contract. The Lakers have an open two-way spot, so there’s still some hope.
Dixon had an impressive collegiate career, leading the nation with an average of 23.3 points per game in his final season at Villanova. He also averaged 5.1 rebounds and shot over 45% from the field, becoming Villanova’s all-time leading scorer with a total of 2,314 points, edging out the legendary Kerry Kittles.
This offseason, the Lakers have also made some interesting moves with their two-way roster, re-signing center Christian Koloko, bringing in guard Chris Manon, and waiving big man Trey Jemison III. Last season, they utilized their two-way contracts on Koloko, Jemison, and Jordan Goodwin, who transitioned to a standard deal later on for playoff eligibility but was recently let go to make space for veteran guard Marcus Smart.
