- Christian Wood is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Lakers
- The big man addresses multiple areas of need
- Gambling on Wood can pay off massively for the team
The Los Angeles Lakers are viewed as one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and there is no doubt that they are expected to compete for the championship next season. Anytime LeBron James and Anthony Davis are on the same roster, that will be the goal.
We recently saw big man Christian Wood sign with the Lakers on a two-year deal, and that is a deal that was received with a good deal of skepticism from fans and analysts alike. Previously, an NBA insider revealed that the main reasons teams were hesitant to sign Christian Wood were due to his poor defense and “concerns about his professionalism”.
With that being said, the Lakers are confident that the Christian Wood gamble will pay off for them, and it is easy to see why. In this article, we will discuss why Christian Wood was an elite signing for the team.
3. Christian Wood Adds Legitimate Frontcourt Size And 3PT Shooting
Neither LeBron James nor Anthony Davis are elite 3PT shooters at this point in their careers. James shot only 32.1% from 3PT range last season (lowest since the 2016 season), while Davis shot 25.7% from beyond the arc, and has never been elite from that area. Thus, it makes sense for the team to surround the two players with elite shooting across the roster.
This is where Christian Wood comes in. He is a career 37.9% shooter from the 3PT range and shot the deep ball at an efficient 37.6% on 4.2 attempts a game last season with the Dallas Mavericks. He will receive some of the best looks of his career from range playing off the two superstars, and we could see a career-high form him in efficiency in that regard.
An area of weakness for the Los Angeles Lakers has been their relative lack of viable options with size in the frontcourt. Though the team did sign Jaxson Hayes, the former lottery pick is unlikely to be good enough for a big role with the team, and he only played 13.0 minutes per game for the Pelicans last season. Christian Wood is likely an upgrade over Hayes in every department, as he is an athletic big man who can rebound better, provide vertical spacing, and shoot.
Potential lineups featuring both Christian Wood and Anthony Davis could provide the Lakers with a rebounding advantage, and Wood wouldn’t be relied upon to be a primary rim protector. Wood has impressive physical measurements, standing at 6’11 with a 7’3 wingspan. If coach Darvin Ham can get him to buy in on defense, some two-big lineups might become a staple for the Lakers. Regardless, Wood averaged 7.3 rebounds in 25.9 minutes last season, and that can be useful even if he has some defensive deficiencies.
There is no doubt that the Christian Wood signing addresses some key areas for the Los Angeles Lakers. He can be a difference-maker for the team offensively, and perhaps the Lakers are the team that is well-equipped to make use of his talents.
2. Christian Wood Gives The Team Good Scoring Coming Off The Bench
Throughout his career, one thing has been clear about Christian Wood: he is an extremely gifted scorer. Last season with the Dallas Mavericks, Wood averaged 16.6 points on 11.5 shots a game and shot 51.5% from the field. He can score efficiently without being given an insane amount of touches, and that could be highly useful for the Los Angeles Lakers.
It was recently revealed that Christian Wood’s likely role on the Lakers will involve him being the backup big man behind Anthony Davis and playing around 20 minutes per game if everyone is healthy. He could definitely become the team’s primary scorer off the bench in that role, and adding a scorer like him could help stabilize the bench unit’s offense. If injuries happen, Wood can also step in and provide offense overall.
The Los Angeles Lakers already have a solidified starting lineup, and unless there are injuries, it is unlikely that Christian Wood will get extended starter minutes. However, his skill set makes him a perfect fit as a sixth man for the current iteration of the Lakers, and if he buys into his role, Wood can clearly help the team win a championship.
1. Christian Wood Is A Low-Risk, High-Reward Signing
The key thing we have to remember about Christian Wood is that he was signed on a two-year deal for the veteran minimum. That makes him an extremely low-risk acquisition for the Lakers. For example, even if he doesn’t match expectations and shows a lack of professionalism in the locker room, the team can simply waive him and sign another veteran minimum in his place.
However, it is clear that the upside with Christian Wood is immense. At the end of the day, it is not often that you see players with his production, efficiency, and talent sign with teams for the veteran minimum. Wood also has every reason to try and buy into the role that the team assigns him: a good showing with a contending team could land him a huge multi-year deal next season, rather than the veteran minimum that he signed. The Los Angeles Lakers also provide a huge stage for his talent, and plenty of eyes will be on him.
Coach Darvin Ham is likely to give Christian Wood every opportunity to succeed with the Los Angeles Lakers this season. It is up to Christian Wood to take advantage of the minutes he is given, and perhaps he can earn even more minutes as the season goes on. Ultimately, this is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Los Angeles Lakers the team has absolutely nothing to lose by adding Wood, and everything to gain in this scenario.
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