Lakers let C Bryant go to free up cap room

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The Los Angeles Lakers have waived center Thomas Bryant.

The Lakers made the roster move Saturday as the start of free agency neared.

Bryant was a second-round pick in last year’s draft. The Indiana University product excelled for the Lakers’ G League affiliate but averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 15 appearances for Los Angeles.

Bryant’s $1.38 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed next week.

The Lakers have spent the past year clearing salary cap room for their pursuit of elite free agents including LeBron James.

Hawks request waivers on reserve guard Isaiah Taylor: The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on reserve guard Isaiah Taylor.

Taylor, signed to a two-year contract last October, started nine of his 67 games last season. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 assists in 17.4 minutes.

NBA sets $101.9M salary cap for 2018-19 season: NBA teams will be working with a salary cap of $101,869,000 for the coming season, with a salary tax level of $123,733,000.

The league released those figures Saturday night, hours before the annual moratorium starts and teams can begin negotiating with free agents. The figures are virtually the same as what teams have been expecting for some time.