Two former Gators sign with Los Angeles Lakers as UDFA
Neither Colin Castleton nor Alex Fudge heard their name called on Thursday night, June 22, as the 2023 NBA draft came and went, but both signed contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers by the end of the night.
Castleton is joining the storied franchise on a two-way contract, which is a guaranteed deal with an NBA franchise to play for its pro team and its G-League affiliate. Dan Woike of the LA Times reported the news first. Although any significant NBA playing time is unlikely, Castleton can work his way up from the unofficial 16th or 17th spot on the roster.
Fudge is on an Exhibit 10 contract, which can turn into at two-way contact but must be done before the start of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. He’ll have less job security than Castleton with the one-year deal not being guaranteed. Fudge can join the team for training camp and will make around $50,000 if he spends more than two months with the G-League affiliate South Bay Lakers.
Both forwards were key pieces of Florida’s starting lineup in 2022-23. Castleton, a fifth-year player who transferred from Michigan after one season, crossed the 1,000-point threshold as a Gator and was a three-time All-SEC forward. His final days in Gainesville were spent on the bench due to injury, though.
Fudge only spent one year at Florida after transferring from LSU. He broke into the starting lineup after injuries forced changes. As a scorer, there’s work to be done, but Fudge is a solid defensive player with incredible athleticism. He’ll put a few players on a poster in the G-League, assuming he gets the chance.
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