Lakers Summer Acquisitions: Boosted Roster with Major Reinforcements

The Los Angeles Lakers sign free agent Christian Wood to support Anthony Davis at center, adding to their reinforced roster.

The Los Angeles Lakers have made a significant move in their offseason by agreeing to terms with free agent Christian Wood. Wood, a big man, expressed his excitement on Twitter, stating that it had always been his dream to play for the Lakers. Interestingly, Wood's desire to join the Lakers aligns with the wishes of the team's star player, Anthony Davis.

Sources have revealed that Davis made it clear to the organization that he wanted more support at the center position to reduce his workload during the regular season. Last season, Davis played as a center in 99% of his minutes, according to Cleaning the Glass data. While Davis' performance in that role earned him a lucrative contract extension, the Lakers have prioritized partnering with their stars to address their needs.

The addition of Wood, along with the signing of 7-footer Jaxson Hayes, demonstrates the Lakers' commitment to fulfilling Davis' request. Wood, at 27 years old, brings a fresh face to a team that fell short of winning the championship last season. Despite losing in the Western Conference finals, the Lakers have made significant improvements while keeping their core intact.

This offseason, Lakers' general manager Rob Pelinka had limited resources to work with, but he managed to create a cohesive vision for the team. Unlike previous seasons, the Lakers avoided making wholesale changes that didn't fit well with their existing roster. They also prioritized youth and athleticism over name recognition and experience. Additionally, they addressed the team's weaknesses by adding players who excel in high-basketball-IQ situations and by improving their shooting.

Wood's signing stands out due to its timing, coming after the team's previous transactions. However, the most impactful moves the Lakers made were re-signing their own stars. In addition to extending Davis, they secured the services of Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, and Rui Hachimura. This core group, along with a healthy LeBron James, provides plenty of reasons for optimism in Lakerland.

Wood's addition could prove to be a steal for the Lakers. Coming off a season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 37.6% from 3, Wood has the opportunity to utilize the Lakers' platform to further establish his value. If James or Davis were to miss significant time due to injuries, Wood could potentially have an even bigger role on the team.

However, it is important to note that Wood's individual defensive rating was the lowest among Mavericks rotation players last season, according to NBA Advanced Stats. If he doesn't fit within the Lakers' agenda of pursuing their 18th championship, there is little at stake.

Ultimately, Wood joins a Lakers franchise that has experienced ups and downs since winning the 2020 NBA Finals. Despite some setbacks, the team remains hopeful that their reinforced roster, including their latest big man signing, can stay healthy and compete for another championship.