The NBA transaction wire moves fast. Like, blink-and-you-missed-the-three-team-trade fast. If you’ve been following the Lakers lately, you probably saw the name Jarron Cumberland pop up, then disappear, then reappear in a trade to Florida. It's confusing. Honestly, it feels like keeping track of a soap opera, but with more jerseys and fewer cliffhangers.
Basically, the Lakers signed Jarron Cumberland to an Exhibit 10 deal back in September 2025. He was part of that late-summer roster churn where teams fill out their training camp invites. But before the ink was even dry, he was waived to make room for Tevian Jones. Now, as we move through January 2026, Cumberland is making headlines again—not for what he’s doing in Purple and Gold, but for where he just went.
Why the Lakers Jarron Cumberland Signing Was Always a G League Play
Most people see a "signing" and think a guy is going to be catching lobs from LeBron at Crypto.com Arena. That wasn't the case here. The Lakers Jarron Cumberland signing was a strategic move to secure his rights for their affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Think of it as a professional "dibs." By signing him and then waiving him shortly after, the Lakers ensured Cumberland would land in El Segundo. This allowed him to spend the early part of the 2025-2026 season developing under the watchful eye of the Lakers’ coaching staff, even if he wasn't on the 15-man NBA roster.
Who exactly is Jarron Cumberland?
Cumberland isn't some rookie fresh out of the draft. He's 28. He’s a 6'5" guard who built a massive reputation at the University of Cincinnati. He was the AAC Player of the Year in 2019. He’s a winner.
🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
He’s spent years grinding in the G League with teams like the Delaware Blue Coats and Raptors 905. He even had a cup of coffee in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers back in 2021. The Lakers signed him because, quite frankly, the guy can shoot the lights out when he’s on. Last season in Delaware, he was knocking down over 42% of his triples. In a league where "spacing" is the most overused word in every GM's vocabulary, that's a valuable skill.
The Recent Pivot: Trading Cumberland to Osceola
Here is where it gets interesting for 2026. On December 24, 2025, right before the holidays, the South Bay Lakers moved on. They traded Jarron Cumberland to the Osceola Magic (the Orlando Magic’s affiliate) in a three-team deal involving the Iowa Wolves.
You might wonder why they'd let a high-level shooter go. In return, the Lakers landed a 2026 first-round draft pick in the G League draft. It’s a classic "sell high" move. Cumberland was averaging about 4.5 points and 4.0 assists in limited minutes for South Bay. While he was solid, he wasn't the dominant force they expected.
The Lakers have been leaning heavily into younger prospects lately—guys like Kobe Bufkin, who they just brought in on a 10-day contract this January. By trading Cumberland, they cleared roster space and added future assets.
💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Breaking Down the Trade
- Lakers got: A 2026 first-round G League draft pick (via Iowa).
- Osceola Magic got: Jarron Cumberland.
- Iowa Wolves got: Player rights to Jalen Crutcher.
What Most People Get Wrong About Exhibit 10 Deals
If you’re a casual fan, the term "Exhibit 10" sounds like some government experiment. It’s actually pretty simple. It’s a one-year, minimum-salary contract that doesn’t count against the cap unless the player makes the team.
The real perk? If the player gets waived but stays with the team’s G League affiliate for 60 days, they get a fat bonus—usually around $75,000. It’s a way for teams like the Lakers to pay guys more than the standard G League salary to keep them in their "ecosystem."
When the Lakers Jarron Cumberland signing happened, it was basically a $75k handshake agreement that said, "Hey, come play for South Bay, and we'll make it worth your while." It worked. He played his games, got his bonus, and then became a trade chip that helped the Lakers net a future pick.
The Reality of the "NBA Dream" in 2026
It’s easy to look at Cumberland’s stats for South Bay—4.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG—and think he’s done. But that’s not how NBA scouts look at it. They see a veteran who knows how to run an offense and doesn't make mistakes.
📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
The Lakers have been struggling with depth. Injuries have piled up, and they’ve been cycling through 10-day contracts. But instead of calling up Cumberland, they went with younger legs. That tells you everything you need to know about where the front office’s head is at. They are looking for "home run" prospects, not "reliable single" veterans.
Actionable Insights for Lakers Fans
So, what should you actually take away from the whole Jarron Cumberland saga?
- Watch the G League Wire: Most Lakers roster moves start in El Segundo. If a guy is playing 30+ minutes for South Bay, he's the next man up for a 10-day contract.
- Asset Management: Moving Cumberland for a 2026 first-round pick is a sign the Lakers are prioritizing the G League draft to find "diamonds in the rough" rather than keeping established vets.
- Kobe Bufkin is the Name to Watch: With Cumberland gone, the backcourt minutes in the Lakers' developmental system are going to guys like Bufkin. That’s who the team is actually betting on for the second half of the 2026 season.
Jarron Cumberland might be an Osceola Magic player now, but his brief stint in the Lakers' system was a masterclass in how modern NBA teams manage their "shadow roster." It wasn't a failure; it was just business.
Check the South Bay Lakers' upcoming schedule to see who steps into the minutes Cumberland left behind. Those are the players who will likely be wearing a Lakers jersey at Crypto.com Arena by March.