The top remaining free agent has now been signed. It’s been a long of summer of waiting. Late Tuesday night, Christian Wood agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal reportedly is worth $5.7 million and it includes a player option for the 2024-25 season. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news:
The Lakers will be Wood’s eighth team. However, the deal is a win-win for both sides in the 2023-24 season. Wood has the ability to restore his value and contribute for a contender. The Lakers will be getting a skilled big man who will give significant minutes at both the PF and C positions.
The signing of both Wood and Jaxon Hayes likely means that Anthony Davis will be required to play less minutes at Center. Wood averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks in 2022-23. His most significant performance came on Christmas day against the Lakers with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals.
Christian Wood gives the Lakers the ability to stretch the floor in the frontcourt. He was one of four players 6-foot-10 or taller to make 100 3-pointers in each of the past two seasons. Wood has averaged 38% on 3-pointers over the past four seasons and joins a Lakers team that shot only 34% last season, 25th in the league.
There’s a perception around Wood that he is an empty-stats, suspect locker-room guy who doesn’t impact winning.
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