While maybe it happened a little faster than expected, Tuesday evening what seemed like the inevitable move actually happened, as the Lakers and F/C Christian Wood agreed to a free agent deal. Two years, with a player option (to benefit Wood and let him re-enter free agency faster) for the second year, at the league minimum (which is all the Lakers could offer).
Wood is, unquestionably, the most talented big the Lakers could have signed. He’s probably the most talented free agent that had been left on the market at any position. He should be a phenomenal fit offensively, not just when Anthony Davis doesn’t play, but also when he does. Wood expands Darvin Ham’s option tree in important ways. He can make life easier for LeBron James, by lightening his scoring burden, especially in games where he plays but AD doesn’t.
But if it was just about talent, Wood wouldn’t have been gettable for a two-year, minimum contract deal. The Mavs would have kept him, or someone else would have signed him for more money, or something.
So what’s good about the signing? What’s bad? What is yet unknown, but angst inducing to say the least?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get their man.
SEGMENT 2: What’s good about the Wood signing?
SEGMENT 3: What’s… not so good (or certainly risky) about bringing him in?
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39 Comments
Lakers will be the top team in the west this season.
Rui was horrific on defense until they put him next to AD and joined a good team and he magically became OK. Wood could be the same.
I was hoping for Biyambo, tbh. Didn't Riles used to always say, "Defense wins championships."? We're along for the ride either way, aren't we?
Ben Wallace and the pistons didn’t have a true big they still was number 1 In defense 😊
The fact that he will be surrounded by elite players and a good coach to help motivate him to be a team player. I suspect that he will be in the starting five. Great job Rob the Executive of the Year.
Great pick up! They can always release him if he is bad for team!
Now sign Bismack Biyombo🎉🎉🎉
Christian “Pecker” Wood
The league is getting serious. Players need to drop the feeling of entitlement and recognize that when you get into the NBA, it is a job. No longer are owners willing to just hand out money because you think they should. Then now, can you fit into our organization? What value do you bring to our organization? Sounds like regular job responsibilities to me. And those spots are limited.
Christian Wood is him he’s a great player I wanted him back in Dallas
Peace – The added 3pt shooting and spacing is much needed – Rebs has me worried. At the end of the day, it is time for Ham to show and prove.
We still need a big body center
Depth,depth and more depth! We got potential out the wahzoo to all the way! Let's go Lake Show 🏆
No offense to Wood, but he has to dedicate himself to what the Lakers need. If he does this, he will be seen as the gear for the Lakers' success. The ego can be good if it is channeled in the right way. But he has to be a defensive asset, I'm hopeful because of Coach Ham.
Christian Wood is 6'9" tall, not 6'11" as Brian reported. He is not a center, he is a power forward and while his skillset is different, in many respects he is duplicative of Rui and Vanderbilt and to some extent even Taurean Prince. The Lakers have gone from a team with tons of guards to a team with tons of wings. Excluding the two rookies on the roster who are not NBA ready at this point, the team has 12 legitimate NBA players who need and deserve minutes. How the coach makes everyone happy with limited minutes to go around is anyone's guess.
Love this pick up for us. His three point shooting will be a tremendous asset.
Im not worried about a vet mins attitude if anything goes wrong hes a trade asset at the deadline for that price
We stacked 1thru 5 y'all ain't ready🔥💯
Perfect place to rehab value with
Wood defense is underrated. The advance stat says that. I believe he will look great in our schemes
Woods is a starter his talent at least third on this team
In my Kobe mamba mentality voice: " THIS MF BETTER BE READY TO GO!"
DLO GABE JHS
REAVES MAX HODGE
LBJ TAUREAN LEWIS
VANDO RUI CAM
AD WOOD HAYES
I haven't seen any Houton or Dallas fans have anything good to say about him.
Andy — Wipe off your camera lens — you're looking blurry.
Who’s do you think is gunna start? X-Woods or Jax-Hayes???
This guy’s ancient if he’s been playing since the 1920 season
Everything happens for a reason. And this season we will see. Remember Gannon the QB who played for the Raiders. Played like crap until he got to the Raiders. Just maybe..😂💜💛
Hopefully he gets good minutes. Without that he won’t be able to be successful. This man can flat out hoop…….. People sleeping on em!
Having a offensive minded center like Wood will take pressure off of AD to score and play defense
Will he shine on Lakers? Like the way he spreads the floor by hitting 3pointers. No defense though, but that’s why AD is top 5 defensive player.
In basketball you play offense and defense if you excel at one it’s a plus. Team D and some rim protection is what the lakers hopefully get from him
I see mostly Vando and Reddish losing minutes , but AD and Lebron will rest some back to backs probably
Common Andy if Lebron can sell the most beer for his franchise it makes him the GOAT. That is how you sound
Wood says he always wanted to be a Laker so i am pretty confident that he will be outstanding (to his standards). We have the best team in the league. Top to bottom. A few risky signings but that upside is tremendous. We are championship bound!!!
lakers didnt go for joel there done
repeat of final 4 or less no chip next season
Aressted dev quote shows who u are
They said the same thing about Dwight. He came and got a ring. Wood will be just fine. It’s no need to fix him. Joker can’t play a lick of defense now imagine him trying to stick wood and Ad. With Ad, wood just need help defense. When AD goes out and now we don’t miss a big man that can put the ball in the bucket. Stop whining and let’s start winning.
Another Russell on defense 😢