According to sources, free agency forward/center Christian Wood and the Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement on a two-year, $5.7 million contract that also includes a player option for the 2024–25 season.
The Lakers get a skillful big man who will provide their frontline enormous versatility and depth, and Wood gets a chance to contribute to a Western Conference contender and increase his marketability for a return to free agency in 2024.
Anthony Davis will probably need to play less minutes at centre this season as a result of the addition of Wood and the free agent signing of 7-footer Jaxson Hayes.
In 2022–23, Wood averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks, including a 30-point, 8–rebound, and 4-steal effort in a victory over the Lakers on Christmas Day.
The Lakers can spread the floor in the frontcourt thanks to Wood, who turns 28 later this month. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he was one of only four players 6-foot-10 or taller to make 100 3-pointers in each of the previous two seasons. The other three were Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Nikola Vucevic.
Wood joins a Lakers squad that shot only 34% last season, 25th in the league, and had averaged 38% on 3-pointers over the previous four seasons.
After starring for the Mavericks for one season and the Houston Rockets for the two seasons prior, Wood relocates to Los Angeles.