The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a two-year deal with ex-Mavericks big man Christian Wood Tuesday evening, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. After being on the free agent market for over two months, Wood comes to a prestigious franchise that was in dire need of center depth.
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.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 6, 2023
NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers Sign Christian Wood
Background
A seven-year journeyman, the 27-year-old Wood went undrafted in 2015 but found his footing late in the 2018-19 season after previous uneventful stints. Despite playing only eight games for the New Orleans Pelicans, Wood averaged 16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in that span. He also shot 53 percent from the field. His impressive stint led to a contract with the Detroit Pistons, where he served as a reliable rotation big and played 62 games in 2019-20. In that time, Wood averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and one assist per game on 56/38/74 shooting splits.
Wood was signed and traded to the Houston Rockets in the 2020 offseason. He made his mark in H-Town, averaging a career-best 21 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from deep. He also started all 41 games he played. After another solid season with Houston, the Rockets traded Wood to the Dallas Mavericks in 2021, acquiring the 26th pick and multiple role players. Wood reverted back to his bench role in Dallas, averaging 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds on 51/37/77 splits.
Though Christian Wood grew as an offensive player, many believe it was his defensive limitations that kept him on the free agent market for such a long period of time. However, he now joins a Lakers team looking to shore up their center depth and revert to the formula that brought them their 17th championship.
What Christian Wood Brings to the Lakers
One impressive area of Wood’s game is his athleticism, which is notable considering his 6-foot-10, 223-pound frame. He’s a reliable lob threat who can also put the ball on the floor when needed. Wood also uses his speed to power past defenders with ease. His rim running is perfect for the Lakers, who capitalize on fast break opportunities.
Aside from his athleticism, Wood’s main attribute is his floor spacing, which has continually improved with time. In the past three seasons, his three-point percentage has remained steady at 38 percent (.374, .390, .376, respectively). His three-point rate has also increased, as 36 percent of last year’s attempts came from the perimeter. His speed, athleticism and floor-spacing should all serve him well in the purple and gold.
Wood is an ideal fit for the Lakers, particularly given their current situation. The team had been eyeing a backup big man so that Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes can serve as their starting power forward and center, respectively. It’s another option aside from continuing with Davis as the lead five. Wood has proven he can thrive in any role he’s placed in. Adjusting to the Lakers should be a somewhat easy task.
Wood’s defensive issues raise concerns about his effectiveness (or lack thereof) in certain lineups. On one hand, he could be paired with Davis’s elite defense. However, in non-Davis and non-LeBron James lineups, Wood’s problems become magnified. Time will tell how Christian Wood has improved on that side of the ball. However, with a defensive-minded coach in Darvin Ham, there should be incremental improvement by the time preseason rolls around.
The Last Word on Christian Wood and the Lakers
Christian Wood will be playing for his eighth team in as many seasons. However, he has shown his talent and potential through it all. Now, he has the chance to contribute to a winning organization and, if all goes well, make his postseason debut. Wood solves a key problem for the Lakers, who now look to maximize their lineups with a new-look roster and the same championship expectations.
