Lakers News: Christian Wood Showing Trust In LA's Coaching Staff
Recent Los Angeles Lakers signing Christian Wood seems to be finding his groove for the Purple and Gold.
He's improved his scoring output across each of his successive preseason games for the team, from 5 to 10 to 13 points, and had this to say about it in comments to Spectrum SportsNet:
Wood, a 6'10" score-first center, is a valuable add to the Lakers no matter which way you put it. He signed a two-year, $5.7 million veteran's minimum contract with Los Angeles, and has a player option for that second season. For that money, he's a bargain with tremendous upside, having put up averages of 21 points and 9.6 rebounds previously as a member of the Houston Rockets during the 2020-21 season.
If Wood can continue his scoring proficiency with LA, the Lakers will have countless ways to use him. Whether he plays alongside AD as a stretch big, in replacement for AD while he's hurt, or just plays as a top-notch backup center, the Lakers are in a terrific spot with such a necessary void on the roster being filled up.
Last season, the Lakers essentially had no backup center. Wenyen Gabriel was the only long-term answer the Lakers had behind AD, but he struggled tremendously in the minutes that he played during the regular season and was relegated to the bench through most of the playoffs.
Moreover, Gabriel added little offensively (he was a solid defender, though), which hurt a Lakers team that was already deprived of creation and offensive output down the stretch of games.
Much of the Lakers' weaknesses last season (three-point shooting, backup big man depth, offensive creation), have been replaced at a high level.
Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince have added to the 3-point department, with Wood and Jaxson Hayes adding to the backup big man void. Offensive creation has been aided slightly by Vincent, with an additional expectation being placed on Austin Reaves' year 3 development, as if he's able to put up his playoff numbers (16.9/4.4/4.6 on 46/44/89.5 splits) into next season (or potentially even improve on them), the Lakers may improve the most out of any Western Conference-contending team.
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