Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly keeping a roster spot open in case the Memphis Grizzlies buy out the contract of veteran swingman Andre Iguodala.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported the update Tuesday, noting the Lakers view the three-time NBA champion as a potential X-factor for their rebuilt squad:

Iguodala was traded to the Grizzlies in early July as the Golden State Warriors worked to create cap space to acquire D'Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets.

The 35-year-old University of Arizona product is not an ideal fit for rebuilding Memphis, and executive vice president of basketball operations Zachary Kleiman said in April the front office wasn't going to cut any corners with an eye on trying to win immediately.

"We're not going to be sacrificing the long-term future for short-term gains," Kleiman told Mark Giannotto of the Commercial Appeal.

In turn, speculation about the 2014-15 NBA Finals MVP's future picked up right after his trade to the Grizz.

Marc Stein of the New York Times reported the team wasn't in a rush to move him, though:

Shams Charania of Stadium reported July 15 the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers were most seriously engaged with the Grizzlies in trade talks but that neither side was close to an agreement.

The Lakers are seemingly holding out hope the Grizzliers won't receive their desired trade offer and instead will buy out Iguodala, who's set to count $17.2 million against the cap for the 2019-20 season, which is the final year of his contract, per Spotrac.

Iguodala would probably fill a limited role behind LeBron James, Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on the wing with L.A. at full strength. But given the load-management craze, there'd probably still be ample games wherein he played 25-plus minutes.

It's unclear whether the Lakers will keep a spot open when the season gets underway if the Grizzlies decide to keep Iguodala until closer to the trade deadline.