Christian Wood Gets Two-Year Deal in LA
The Los Angeles Lakers offseason additions aren’t done yet. After luring Gabe Vincent from the Miami Heat, the Lakers re-signed D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura. The Purple and Gold also added Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, and Taurean Prince to reinforce the LeBron James-Anthony Davis duo.
But the Lakers were still thin up front, and could use a floor spacing big to help solve their less than stellar three point shooting in 2022-23. Enter, Christian Wood.
Christian Wood Joins the Lakers- Sources
Wood’s name had been linked to the Lakers since the beginning of the 2023 offseason. And after a one year stint with the Dallas Mavericks, he’s set to head to Hollywood.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wood has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers. The deal will include a player option for the 2024-2025 season.
Once the contract becomes official, Wood will slot in as the 14th and final roster spot on the Lakers. He averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 37.6% from the three-point line last year.
On paper Wood going to the Lakers should benefit both sides. For one, the Lakers acquired the three-point shooting big man it sorely lacked during their sweeping defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. They also get some insurance for the oft injured Anthony Davis as Wood wouldn’t be out of place in a starting role this fall. Meanwhile, Wood will get a chance to contend for a title before deciding whether or not to re-enter free agency next year or to pick up the player option.
His addition also gives head coach Darvin Ham increased roster flexibility as Wood could ostensibly play the starting power forward spot, allowing Anthony Davis to slide over to center. While Davis has made his feelings about playing the 5 spot known in the past, having the option, if only even for small spurts, is a luxury LA didn’t have in 2022-23.
The 27 year old Wood is also familiar with “The Brow” after having previously played alongside Davis when they were both members of the New Orleans Pelicans. Granted, it was a fairly small sample size back in 2018-19, but the two have at least a passing familiarity with one another.
The Lakers would be the 8th team for the well travelled Wood, as the 6’10” forward has never spent more than 109 games with any franchise since breaking into the league with Sixers back in 2015-16.
How Wood’s Arrival Impacts Rotation
Wood is a big man who can space the floor and help ease the scoring load off LeBron and AD. For his career, Wood, who went undrafted in 2015, is shooting 37.9% from the three-point line.
D’Angelo Russell may have shot 41.4% from three in his return to the Lakers but he also vanished during the West Finals. Having a big that can draw defenders out from the paint will help address the Lakers’ lack of outside shooting, while also making Davis’ life easier down low.
While LA lacked depth to kick off the 2022-23 campaign, the Lakers now have more than enough pieces to contend for a championship in what could be LeBron James’s swan song out West.
Darvin Ham now has a deep bench, and can mix and match his rotations based on the opponent on any given night. Where the Lakers were fairly limited in what they could do last year, having pieces such as Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Christian Wood, means the offense shouldn’t stagnate when LeBron and AD are off the floor.
Wood certainly comes with his warts, as his maturity has previously been questioned and was part of the reason why his suitcase has been at the ready every offseason. But with a no nonsense head coach and a veteran heavy team, Rob Pelinka and Co. are banking on Wood buying in this upcoming season.
-Iggy Gonzales
Photo: Tom Hagerty. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.