MISSOULA — Tres Tinkle's time with the Los Angeles Lakers is over before it started.
The Missoula native and Hellgate High grad was waived by the Lakers on Sunday, per the NBA transaction report.
Tinkle signed as an undrafted free agent with the defending NBA champion Lakers back on Nov. 20. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract, meaning he would receive an invitation to training camp and a bonus of $50,000 if waived and signed to the Lakers' G League affiliate.
According to reports, Tinkle, along with fellow waived signees Zavier Simpson (Michigan) and Kevon Harris (Stephen F. Austin), never got a chance to attend training camp or take part in any preseason games despite being signed, with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions in the NBA possibly limiting their chance to take the floor.
Tinkle, who led Hellgate to the Class AA state championship title in 2013 and was a two-time Montana Gatorade player of the year, finished up his career at Oregon State this past spring as the program's all-time leader in scoring with 2,233 career points.
