The Los Angeles Lakers waived forward William Kyle III on Friday, shortly after their 114-110 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. The team also signed Rafael Castro, a 6-foot-11 big man from George Washington University, to an Exhibit 10 contract.
Kyle, who went undrafted this summer out of Syracuse University, averaged 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in his senior season. He played for the Lakers in the Las Vegas Summer League in July, putting up 2.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 10 minutes per game. Over three preseason appearances this week, he totaled two points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 18 minutes.
Castro, who spent last season at George Washington, brings a different profile. He averaged 15.3 points on 62.7% shooting, 9.1 rebounds, 1.76 steals, and 1.72 blocks per game. Undrafted in June, Castro has had brief stints on two-way contracts this summer with the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets. He earned Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team honors in both 2025 and 2026 during his college career. Castro is originally from Dover, New Jersey.
The Lakers announced the moves via their official channels, confirming the signing of Castro and the waiving of Kyle. These roster adjustments follow the team’s recent preseason schedule and are part of their continuing effort to finalize the squad for the regular season.
Kyle’s release comes after limited playing time and impact in the preseason, while Castro’s defensive credentials and efficiency offer the Lakers a new option in the frontcourt. Both players entered the NBA without being drafted, making their path to securing a spot on an NBA roster more challenging.
This development reflects the Lakers’ ongoing evaluation of talent during the preseason period. The team has yet to finalize its full roster ahead of the regular season tip-off.
According to Yahoo Sports.
