Nine Games, Zero Hype: Chris Mañon's New Lakers Offer Is a Head-Scratcher

Alright, Seattle, buckle up. While we're out here prepping for another incredible season with our M's smashing dingers at T-Mobile Park and the Hawks getting ready to dominate Lumen Field, the basketball world is already getting wild. And naturally, a certain team down south is making some... interesting choices. We're talking about the Los Angeles Lakers, who reportedly just tendered a two-way qualifying offer to guard Chris Mañon. Yeah, the same Chris Mañon who only suited up for nine games with them last season. A two-way offer for a dude who spent most of his time in the G League with South Bay? Seriously? It just screams "Lakers offseason," doesn't it?

What's the Deal with Chris Mañon?

Let's get into it. This isn't exactly a household name, even for hardcore hoops fans. Mañon, an undrafted guard out of Vanderbilt, signed a two-way contract with the Lakers before the 2025-26 season. He got into a whopping nine games with the big club, but the vast majority of his minutes were with their G League affiliate. And now, they're reportedly tendering him a two-way qualifying offer. This move means they want to keep him in the system, possibly for another season of G League development with a few L.A. cameos. For a team with "unanswered questions" heading into free agency, which kicks off Tuesday, June 30, it's a curious first step. Are they that strapped for talent, or do they see something no one else does in a guy who barely touched the court?

The Lakers' Wild Offseason Rollercoaster

Mañon's offer is just one piece of what's already shaping up to be a classic chaotic Lakers offseason. They've made one "major move" so far, agreeing to terms with Austin Reaves on a monster four-year, $185 millio

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n contract. Before that, there were whispers they were even talking with the Heat about Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware. This team has projected cap space and they're definitely trying to make some noise. They also drafted 3-and-D wing Cameron Carr with the 24th pick, after trading up with the New York Knicks. Carr's apparently "excited to learn" from Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Plus, they brought in Robert McCray V and Jacari White on Exhibit 10 contracts, even after trading into and then out of the second round of the draft. It's a lot, even for them. The word around the league is that Deandre Ayton, whose first season with the Lakers had its ups and downs after being bought out by the Blazers, is expected to pick up his player option. Oh, and of course, there are those wild rumors about the Warriors trying to land *both* LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the championship duo. We’ve also heard the Nets and Spurs have eyes for Rui Hachimura, and the Rockets are apparently sniffing around Marcus Smart, who was a "major catalyst" for the Lakers against them in the first round when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were sidelined. Can you believe it?

What's Next for the Purple and Gold?

So, what does this all mean? The Lakers are clearly trying to stack their roster, whether it's with huge contracts, draft picks, or two-way flyers on guys like Chris Mañon. Free agency is about to explode, and with all their cap space and "unanswered questions," you know they're not done making moves. For us Seattle fans, it's just another reminder of the never-ending drama down in L.A. While we're focused on our teams, keeping an eye on the rival Lakers is always a must, if only to roll our eyes a little. We'll be watching to see if these moves actually lead to something, or if it's just more offseason noise.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.