Los Angeles Lakers signing Florida forward Alex Fudge
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alex Fudge has landed in Los Angeles. The Lakers are signing him to an Exhibit-10 deal, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Fudge will be joined in LA by teammate Colin Castleton, who is signing a two-way contract with the team after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Fudge made a surprising decision when he declared for the draft in mid-April. He spent two years in the SEC, first at LSU and then with the Gators.
Fudge averaged 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds with the Tigers and then increased his numbers to 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds as a sophomore at UF.
He averaged 19.4 minutes per game last season and made 11 starts in 32 games played before suffering a head injury that set him back.
“Alex has been really good for us,” Gators coach Todd Golden said of Fudge after his injury. “Obviously, we’re not going to get him back out there until he’s ready, both from a health standpoint most importantly and then helping us win, equally as important. And obviously it was a challenge (without him) because he’s played a lot for us, been doing really well.”
Fudge draft process
Fudge first worked out for the Lakers last Wednesday during a pre-draft audition, and then conducted a second workout for LA this past Monday, per Sports Illustrated.
Fudge was listed as one of the top performers from the first day of the G-League Elite Camp, an invite-only combine for players trying to make it to the NBA.
“Listed at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-0 wing span, Alex Fudge’s defensive upside is so intriguing. He showed natural instincts and the ability to slide his feet and switch up or down a lineup. The offense is raw, but there is a clear upside here.” — On3 National Basketball Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw
