The rumors came true about Christian Wood, who will be a Laker for the next two seasons and an NBA insider has revealed what the likely starting frontcourt will look like with the addition of the new center.
“I’ve always wanted to be a Laker. I know we can win a championship,” Wood told Marc J. Spears. “Communication with a coach is a big key. Coach Ham and I go back to our Milwaukee days and we’ve had great conversations everyday about this opportunity. He believes in me and told me I’ll be playing a big role and knows what I can do.”
The 27-year-old is set to make $5.7 million on a veteran’s minimum two year deal, despite being a starting caliber-center.
Other players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk came to the Lakers on a cheap deal and were able to breathe some life back into their careers.
It will be interesting to see if Wood can do the same.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha believes LA coach Darvin Ham will have him coming off the bench in favor of Rui Hachimura.
“The early expectation is that Wood will come off the bench with Rui Hachimura the likely frontcourt starter next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, according to team sources,” Buha wrote. “At a minimum, Wood will be the primary backup center behind Davis while occasionally teaming with him in two-big lineups. He should average around 20 minutes per game when everyone is healthy.
“The challenge with starting Wood is the same that arises for any potential Lakers two-big lineup: it forces Davis and James to slide down to power forward and small forward, positions they’ve each phased out of as they’ve aged.”
While his ability in defense can be questioned, Wood is actually one of the most versatile scoring big men in the NBA.
Only six players that stand above 6’10” made at least 37 percent of their three pointers last seasons and Woods was among them.
The other five were Lauri Markkanen, Brook Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis, Bobby Portis and Michael Porter Jr.
As well, he solves the Lakers’ big problem of not having anyone to replace AD on the floor.
“Wood’s greatest value to the Lakers may be as insurance for injuries in the regular season,” Buha says. “When Davis misses time, which is seemingly inevitable, Wood can step in and assume a greater offensive role.”
His acquisition, along with adding Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish and re-signing Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura, could make the Lakers a genuinely scary title contender if all goes well.
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