The Los Angeles Lakers have made a lot of significant moves in the offseason thus far. As it turns out, they had one more left in them.
REPORT: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Christian Wood
ESPN’s NBA guru Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday evening that LA has come to an agreement to sign former Dallas Mavericks big man Christian Wood off of free agency:
“Free agent F/C Christian Wood has agreed on a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes a player option,” Woj wrote in his report.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, the 6-foot-10 forward/center has agreed to a two-year deal worth $5.7 million. Wood will have a player option for 2025-26, which means that if he so chooses, he could opt to walk away as a free agent after this season.
23-24: $2,709,849
24-25: $3,036,040 (P)
Wood can reestablish himself with a strong Laker team and enter free agency once again next offseason.
Depth of bigs include: Anthony Davis, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and now Wood https://t.co/yKp9Fewcfh
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) September 6, 2023
This signing follows a long line of moves from LA in what has been an eventful summer for the squad. Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura all penned big-money extensions this offseason. LA also added Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince all via free agency.
They did lose Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV, and Malik Beasley, with the trio opting to sign with other teams. Mo Bamba also made his way out of Hollywood, thereby opening a bit of a hole in the frontcourt.
This is where Christian Wood comes in. The former Mavs big man will now compete for minutes in the frontcourt that is populated by Anthony Davis, Jarred Vanderbilt, Hayes, and Hachimura. It remains unclear what type of role Wood will get in head coach Darvin Ham’s system, but if the 27-year-old is able to get his act together, he could be a game-changer for LA.
Last season in Dallas, he averaged 16.6 points on 51.5 percent shooting, to go along with 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks, while also knocking down 1.6 triples on an efficient 37.6 percent clip. That’s certainly not a bad weapon for LA to use off the bench (or perhaps even as a starter down the road?) — especially considering the minimal cap hit they will need to take from Wood’s $2.7 million salary for 2023-24.
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