The Los Angeles Lakers want to sign one more big man to complete their roster for this season. Reportedly, they narrowed their candidates to Bismack Biyombo and Christian Wood.
Of the two, there is a growing feeling Wood may be the better candidate. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while shooting 51.5% overall and 37.6% from 3-point range this past season.
However, Wood doesn’t have the best reputation around the league. He is known as a weak defender who may not have the best attitude, and if he were to come to Los Angeles, he’d have to take a much-reduced role while focusing more on defense and rebounding.
It may take doing a sign-and-trade, perhaps with someone such as Jarred Vanderbilt, for the Lakers to end up getting the 6-foot-9 veteran, since all they could offer him as a free agent is the veteran’s minimum salary. There are reportedly at least a few other teams that are interested in snagging Wood that may be able to offer him more money.
According to Dan Woike, the Lakers have done research on Wood, a player who also has some connections to members of the team (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via Los Angeles Times:
“Sources say the team has done significant background work on Wood,” wrote Woike. “Coach Darvin Ham was in Milwaukee when Wood played 13 games there in 2018-19. Anthony Davis played with Wood in New Orleans at the end of that year, as well. Assistant JD DuBois was with Wood in Detroit in 2019-20. Multiple members of last season’s Dallas Mavericks staff have close ties to the Lakers, James and Davis.”
If L.A. were to get Wood, and if he were to work out, he would give them a legitimate scoring option, as well as another 3-point shooting threat that would space the floor for LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The team still could use improved outside shooting if it is to win another NBA championship this coming season.
Where LeBron James could come into play
If Wood were to become a Laker, it could take James’ leadership to keep him engaged and positive, and James could perhaps be up to the task if he feels Wood is what the team needs.
The Lakers have had success with reclamation projects during James’ time with the team, including Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard, both of whom had checkered reputations when they arrived.
One source told the Los Angeles Times that if James were to keep Wood in line, it would make him the greatest player of all time.
“If LeBron (James) can get him to toe the line, it cements LeBron as the greatest player of all time,” one NBA source told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s how hard it is.”
That statement seems to illustrate how much of a potential malcontent the forward could become for whichever team he ends up suiting up for.
