Lakers are still interested in Christian Wood, but sign-and-trade is unlikely
With the NBA at the approximate midway point of the offseason, player movement came to a screeching halt nearly a month ago. However, there could still be a couple of moves ahead.
Damian Lillard asked the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him several weeks ago, and no progress has been made on that front. The Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly been looking to trade James Harden, but a deal hasn’t been consummated yet.
As far as the Los Angeles Lakers are concerned, they still want and need one more true big man on their roster. They seem to be zeroed in on the Dallas Mavericks’ Christian Wood, but nothing is imminent.
According to Marc Stein, the interest is still there (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via Marc Stein Substack:
“The Lakers, after swiftly coming to terms with Anthony Davis on a three-year contract extension worth a projected $186 million, have maintained a level of interest in signing free agent big man Christian Wood, league sources say,” wrote Stein.
The Lakers can only offer Wood a veteran’s minimum contract. There has been some chatter that they could do a sign-and-trade in order to give him a somewhat bigger contract, but Stein says that isn’t an option.
“The Lakers, though, remain limited in offering Wood anything beyond the league’s veteran minimum,” Stein continued. “As I reported here last month, Dallas remains open to facilitating a sign-and-trade for Wood if the Mavericks can acquire a player they like in the exchange, but neither the Lakers nor the Miami Heat are considered potential sign-and-trade destinations.”
Wood is a proven scorer, but his attitude is thought to be suspect. Still, the team reportedly has optimism they could make things work with him were it to obtain the 6-foot-9 big man.
