Lakers News: Yet Another Possible Free Agent Center Target Signs With Rival

LA's options at the position are getting scarce.

Your Los Angeles Lakers are running out of available bodies from which to choose for their 14th roster spot this summer. 

Now, another one is off the table for a club that expects to contend for its 18th title in 2024. 

Free agent five Udoka Azubuike, most recently a bench big with teh Utah Jazz, is heading to a loaded Phoenix Suns roster on a surprising two-way contract, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Team vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has previously stated that LA would target a free agent center with its next signing, and it is believed that the Lakers plan to head into the season with their 15th roster spot open to facilitate other moves later.

Azubuike, a 6'11" center out of Kansas, was selected with the No. 27 pick in the 2020 draft, and spent his first three seasons with some solid Jazz clubs. Last year, he averaged 3.5 points on a whopping 81.9% field goal shooting, along with 3.3 boards, in just 10 minutes per contest with Utah across 36 games. His size, athleticism and efficiency around the rim made yours truly think he might be worthy of at least a non-guaranteed veteran's minimum deal and a standard roster spot, but evidently the market felt otherwise.

Christian Wood and Bismack Biyombo, generally considered LA's top two remaining free agent targets for that 14th spot, are still available.

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