The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the teams keen on adding Christian Wood this summer, but there have been murmurs of an “influential” Lakers player not keen on adding the big to the team in the 2023-24 season.
Reddit theories from fans had one of them pointing out Anthony Davis as the player who didn’t want Wood on the roster.
“He was talking about how word around the team was that certain “influential” Lakers don’t want Wood, and that while he knows who they are, he doesn’t want to reveal it cause he doesn’t want to cause drama.
“My guess is the guys who don’t want him are those who’ve played with him before, so that raises the question: has anyone on the team played with him before and if do who?”
Lane’s words, to be more precise were “influential”. Here’s a quick look at the video below, where he assessed whether Wood was a good option for LA.
[Starts 3:40 onwards]
Moving on to the comments :
(Note that some of them have been edited for the purpose of clarity)
“From everything Lane has said I’m pretty sure it’s AD. Wood was on the Pelicans the year AD asked out, and Lane said the player has a “high level of influence.”
“From a quick look AD played with him his last year in NO, and Darvin Ham was on the Bucks coaching staff for a year in Milwaukee.”
“Saw a post saying that AD is one of the guys trying to recruit Wood.”
“Keyword here is “influential.” There are not a lot of players on the team that fits that description. Unless he meant influential people within the organization, which is a lot.”
“AD, bron, and maybe AR (clearly they’re investing in him as part of the future and third option) are the only three who would have any real sway in the roster. Everyone else is just role players or tradable.”
Focusing on the first comment, Wood and Davis were indeed together in the New Orleans Pelicans 2018-19 roster. The former was waived by the team on July 15, 2019.
Incidentally, Davis asked out of New Orleans the same year and was traded to the Lakers for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and three first-round draft picks, including the Lakers’ No. 4 overall selection in the 2019 NBA draft.
So there might be some food for thought when it comes to Lane’s theory of one influential Lakers player not keen on adding Wood to the side, and if that’s indeed Davis, the next question will surely be as to why.
The Chicago Bulls And The Miami Heat Might Beat The Lakers In Acquiring Christian Wood
With an exit from the Dallas Mavericks looking highly possible, Wood was in the Los Angeles Lakers’ sights, but it appears that the Purple and Gold will have to beat the Chicago Bulls to it.
NBA analyst Dan Woike reported the development in his latest for the LA Times.
“According to sources familiar with the team’s free-agent pursuits but not authorized to speak publicly, the Chicago Bulls are suddenly viewed as a potential threat that could keep the Lakers from landing Wood.”
This comes on the back of the Lakers GM Rob Pelinka saying that the team is looking to sign another big, and while Wood does look a decent fit, they will look to make a move sooner if they intend to land him in free agency.
Last season, in 67 games for the Mavericks, he averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 51% shooting. But he is a liability on the defensive end, and perhaps that would be one of the factors the team will consider given how Darvin Ham is a defense-first coach.
Only time will tell who the influential Laker indeed is.
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