The Los Angeles Lakers have made it clear that the team wants to use one of its few remaining roster slots on a big man.
Although L.A. obviously added Jaxson Hayes this summer, he isn’t even seven feet tall. In a conference where Nikola Jokic reigns supreme, it’s hard to fault the Lakers for wanting to add a big body to throw at him.
A few weeks ago, word emerged that Christian Wood was a player that Los Angeles had its eye on. The move made sense in certain ways, but less so in others.
There was also one pretty major roadblock that all parties involved had to overcome.
As it turns out, there is now a dark horse suitor that is poised to steal Wood away from the Lakers.
According to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Bulls have positioned themselves as a potential alternative to the Lakers.
Because of Lonzo Ball’s injury, the Bulls now have a $10.23 million disabled player exception to maneuver with. That is far more than what the Lakers have to offer. L.A. is restricted to handing out the minimum at this juncture.
Realistically, the Lakers could also try to finagle a sign-and-trade if they really want Wood, but it appears the front office doesn’t want to go down that route.
Wood comes with his fair share of pluses and minuses. Last season he averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Dallas Mavericks.
When the Mavs permitted him to start, he averaged 20.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 2.3 assists per game.
And he is just 27 years old.
What an offseason for the Boston Celtics. https://t.co/VKJusFEBmx
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 27, 2023
That is all good.
The bad is that Wood is a horrendous defensive player and, in some people’s eyes, has a bad perception of his standing in the league relative to how others see him.
One way or another, the Christian Wood Sweepstakes are going to get figured out sooner rather than later. Where will he end up sitting when the music stops? An answer will emerge in the coming weeks.
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