Rockets Ex Christian Wood Signs With Lakers

Former Houston Rockets big man Christian Wood is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

HOUSTON — Former Houston Rockets big man Christian Wood has agreed to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The first-year salary is projected to be $2.7 million and includes a $3 million final-year player option. ESPN was the first to report. 

By joining the Lakers, Wood ends his lone tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, who acquired him in a trade from the Rockets in June 2022. He averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 67 appearances.

Wood is a Long Beach native whose arrival to the Lakers will be a homecoming. He grew up idolizing the late-great Kobe Bryant. And now, Wood will have a chance to play next to the NBA's All-Time scoring leader, LeBron James.

Signing with the Lakers will also give Wood a chance to reunite with Anthony Davis. The two played together for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018-19 season. Davis' trade request caused friction between himself and the Pelicans. But despite his fractured relationship, Davis still served as a mentor to Wood.

Wood has had his share of struggles on the defensive end. But given his time with the Rockets, Wood proved he will be a solid addition to Los Angeles. 

After signing with the Rockets in December 2020, Wood had established himself as one of the finest big men in the league following a turbulent start to his career.

He was arguably the Rockets' best player during the early stages of a rebuild after averaging 19.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 109 games. But despite Wood's near all-star production, Houston registered 37 wins over the previous two seasons.

While appearing in a career-best 68 games during the 2021-22 campaign, Wood notched 17.9 points on 50.1 percent shooting from the field, to go along with 10.1 rebounds and a block.

The Rockets gave Wood his first genuine opportunity. After going undrafted in 2015 out of UNLV, he played for five different teams and had three stops in the G League.