Lakers News: New Christian Wood Report Hurts Chances of an LA Signing

They are still interested though!

We are now in the month of August and even though fans of the Los Angeles Lakers will be able to watch rising star Austin Reaves suit up with Team USA over these next couple of weeks, our full squad will not be suiting up together until the preseason kicks off in early October. We have been receiving numerous reports that LA is optimistic about the possibility of new big man Jaxson Hayes teaming up with Anthony Davis in the starting lineup but that means they still need a backup center.

Therefore, what's going on with their free agency situation as the summer winds down. They were super active the first couple of weeks and made some great moves to make their roster even deeper after a run to the Western Conference Finals but not much has happened since GM Rob Pelinka revealed that the franchise would be looking to find another big man that could create his own offense.

Bismack Biyombo can't necessarily be a go-to option in the post but he has plenty of experience in the league and can protect the rim and there's always former Lakers big men from last season such as Wenyen Gabriel and Tristan Thompson. However, the most talented option left on the market by far is Christian Wood and everybody can say what they want about his attitude and defensive weaknesses but he would help LA in terms of stretching the floor and holding down scoring production when AD goes to the bench.

LA's front office has remained interested in his services but they have reportedly only offered the veteran minimum just like every other squad that he's met with. However, Marc Stein revealed that the Dallas Mavericks are still hopeful that they could pull off a sign-and-trade for their former big man and the Lakers likely would not be in that mix.

"The Lakers, though, remain limited in offering Wood anything beyond the league’s veteran minimum.

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. For starters: Miami, while cited in the past as a team with interest in Wood, is already nearly $9 million over the first tax apron for next season and is thus precluded from acquiring any player via sign-and-trade. Any sign-and-trade, furthermore, would have to feature a three-year contract for Wood with at least one season guaranteed."

(Via The Stein Line)

These next few weeks will be crucial to see where Wood ends up and if he decides to take the minimum for this season, I think we do see him end up in LA. However, if he does want a long-term deal, the Lakers will have to look elsewhere.

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