JJ Redick says Lakers are “invested in” Chris Mañon’s development as the two-way run continues

The Lakers’ continued investment in Chris Mañon is becoming a clearer theme as Los Angeles keeps him tied to the organization on a two-way deal for the second straight year. In an interview framed around Mañon’s growth, Lakers coach JJ Redick said the team is “invested in his development,” connecting the roster decision to the way the Lakers evaluate and cultivate young players.

Mañon’s path to the Lakers has been closely tied to summer exposure against them. During his Summer League debut in 2025, when he was playing for the Golden State Warriors, Mañon posted eight points, three rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and one assist in 19 minutes against Los Angeles. The performance, according to the report, is part of what caught the attention of the Lakers organization.

What followed was a two-way contract for 2025-26, and the Lakers have reportedly renewed that arrangement again this summer for 2026-27. The structure matters in the NBA context because two-way players can split time between the NBA roster and the team’s G League affiliate, giving coaches a way to measure development in both practice environments and game situations.

Redick’s comments put a spotlight on the process behind that structure. Rather than treating Mañon as a short-term depth piece, the coach’s stance suggests the Lakers view his early-career contributions as a foundation to build on, particularly as his role and comfort expand over time. For a team balancing immediate results with roster experimentation, that kind of continuity can be valuable.

The story also underlines how Summer League performances can carry weight beyond a single week, especially for players on the margins. Mañon’s numbers in that Lakers game were notable across categories, particularly on the defensive side with multiple steals and blocks in limited minutes. While Summer League is not the regular season, it is one of the NBA’s clearer windows into how a player reads, reacts, and impacts possessions quickly.

At the same time, there is a limit to what can be concluded from one short sample. The Lakers’ decision to keep Mañon on a two-way contract for another year indicates confidence, but it still leaves the question of how fully his skills translate to consistent NBA rotations. For Mañon, the next step is the same one that applies to many two-way players, converting flashes into repeatable performance against veteran-level competition.

For Lakers fans, the immediate watch item is how Redick and the coaching staff use Mañon in practice and in real game reps as the 2026-27 season unfolds. The broader question is whether the development plan attached to that two-way commitment turns into a bigger role, or whether it remains a bridge contract that continues to produce depth as the roster evolves.

In the background, the Redick-to-Mañon connection also reflects a modern NBA approach to building depth through targeted evaluation and repeated opportunities. Mañon’s re-signing after making an impact in a direct matchup against Los Angeles suggests the Lakers liked what they saw, and Redick’s remarks reinforce that they plan to keep investing before deciding what comes next.