The Lakers moved one step closer to solidifying their rotation when they assigned backup small forward Devin Ebanks to the D-Fenders of the D-League. Ebanks started the season’s first four games, but only appeared in eight other games as Lakers coach Mike Brown decided to go first with Matt Barnes and then Metta World Peace as his starter.

The moves comes a week after the Lakers waived backup power forward Derrick Caracter in a move to open a roster spot and also save the on payroll. Caracter’s contract of roughly $750,000 would have become guaranteed had he been on the roster as of last Friday. The Lakers expect Ebanks to make his D-Fenders debut Saturday.