Lakers News: Why LA May Not Be Able To Sign Best Free Agent Center Left On Market

The reasoning checks out.

Your Los Angeles Lakers continue to be on the prowl for another frontcourt free agent piece this summer, even as more possible additions continue to be picked off the market.

Just this past week, Willy Hernangómez and Bol Bol both got snatched up by other teams (Hernangómez signed with a club from his native Spain, while Bol joined the Phoenix Suns). 

But one of LA's top rumored targets remains available: ex-Dallas Mavericks reserve center/power forward Christian Wood. 

Marc Stein opined in a recent Substack chat that one big issue might preclude the Lakers from successfully adding the 6'10" vet in a signing this season: cold hard cash.

"Financial constraints may be keeping the Lakers from reaching out to free agent big man Christian Wood," Stein writes. 

Wood made $14.3MM for Dallas last year, and while after burning through yet another franchise amidst rumored locker room tensions may prevent him from matching that most recent payday, the 27-year-old's floor-spacing abilities as a big man should certainly set him up for more than the mere minimum.

The Mavericks are reportedly open to a sign-and-trade deal, which could help Los Angeles get into the mix for Wood again should they so choose.

In 2022-23, the UNLV product averaged 16.6 points on .515/.376/.772 shooting splits, 7.3 boards, 1.8 dimes and 1.1 blocks across 67 games (just 17 starts).

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