Pundit Pitches Best Strategy For Lakers To Recruit Top Free Agent Target
Summer is almost coming to a close and that means that school will be back in session, Los Angeles weather will hopefully start cooling down and Christian Wood will likely make his decision as to where he will be playing next. Unless the Dallas Mavericks go against most reports and bring the scoring big man back, Wood will be playing for his eighth different team over the past eight years and one would think that he wants to find a set home this time around.
The NBA is not the easiest league to do so and secure multi-year contracts but Wood stands at 6'10 and can put the ball in the basket when asked to while posing the ability to stretch the floor. Coming off of a season with the Mavericks where he averaged close to 17 points and seven boards per game, certain fans have been scratching their heads wondering why another contender hasn't snagged him yet. Teams like the Lakers and the Miami Heat have been named as potential suitors but reports show that Wood's market right now is not too hot.
Front offices have only been offering the minimum to him due to a number of factors including locker room presence, defensive effort and the uncertain role he would have on said squads. LA needs another big man after signing Jaxson Hayes last month and if they truly want to do their best to allow superstar Anthony Davis to get more time at his preferred power forward position, which I'm sure was negotiated in his extension talks, there are not many free agents left that make sense besides Wood.
Los Angeles Times columnist Dan Woike came through with some excellent insight on how Rob Pelinka and the rest of LA's executives can convince Wood to come in for a small contract and follow in the steps of recent Lakers role players.
"If Wood is waiting for a heftier paycheck than the league minimum that the Lakers can offer, so be it. But if his market is the minimum, and here in early August it sure seems like it is, the Lakers believe they offer the best situation for the talented big man. Like they did with Malik Monk two years ago and with Dennis Schroder last season, the Lakers have a track record of taking players on minimum contracts and showcasing them in ways that can lead to raises the following offseason, helping fight off the notion that once you sign a minimum contract, you limit your earning potential."
(Via LA Times)
Wood could very well be waiting for the dust to settle after the potential Damian Lillard trade to the Heat to make his decision but with training camp looming closer and closer, I personally hope to see him make his way to Hollywood.
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