Los Angeles Lakers Waive Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones Ahead of Opening Night
The Los Angeles Lakers waived forwards Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones as the franchise trimmed its roster following the conclusion of the NBA preseason, lakeshow.it reported. Both players joined the team on Exhibit 10 contracts during training camp and were not viewed as candidates to secure guaranteed regular-season roster spots.
Roster Decisions and Remaining Camp Cuts
Tait-Jones arrived in Los Angeles shortly after the team signed and subsequently waived Jahmir Young. The 25-year-old New Zealand native went undrafted in 2025 following a stint in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League, where he averaged 15.9 points and 6.9 rimbalzi across 29 starts and won Finals MVP honors. He dressed for the preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets but did not enter the game. Castro joined the Lakers after the team waived William Kyle III. The former Providence player made his debut against the Golden State Warriors on October 13, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, contributing two points, three rebounds, and one assist in ten minutes. He added two rebounds in six minutes during the final preseason contest against Denver.
The Lakers have waived Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the team announced. LAL has a couple more training camp practices remaining before opening the regular season against GSW on Wednesday.
Final Cutdowns Before Opening Night
The roster moves left the Lakers with 16 players carrying guaranteed contracts ahead of the league’s roster reduction deadline. The front office must cut that number down to 15 before the regular-season opener, or execute a trade to address the surplus. “LAL has a couple more training camp practices remaining before opening the regular season against GSW on Wednesday,” ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin posted on October 17, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Lakers Roster Cuts
What type of contracts did Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones sign?
Both players signed Exhibit 10 contracts, which are non-guaranteed training camp deals that allow teams to convert them to two-way contracts or award bonuses if the player is waived and joins the organization’s G League affiliate.
When do the Los Angeles Lakers play their regular-season opener?
The Lakers open the regular season against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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