The Los Angeles Lakers made a big move by adding Christian Wood to their 14th roster position, giving the team greater depth after reaching the Western Conference Finals.
After being eliminated by the champion Denver Nuggets, it was evident that Los Angeles needed to make adjustments around the edges if they were to win another title with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Wood, along with Jaxson Hayes, gives depth to the center position.
The former Dallas Maverick will give offensive punch off the bench and may occasionally play with Davis, as well as becoming the starting center while Davis is out. Fans are familiar with Wood’s offense, but he revealed the most underappreciated aspect of his game to Spectrum SportsNet:
Underrated? My ability to pass out of pick-and-roll situations. I think I’ve become better at that, especially last year when I was playing with Luka [Doncic] and the gravity he used with the double teams and leaving me open in the mid-post to make the pass to the corner men. That’s the most underappreciated aspect of my game.”
Training camp is soon to begin, allowing head coach Darvin Ham to meet the new players signed by the Lakers this summer. Wood has received some negative connotations as a player due to his lack of defense and the drive he has on the court, but it will be intriguing to see whether Ham and his staff can turn his career around and land a new deal next summer.
Wood will presumably be the pick setter for LeBron James and other ball-handlers, allowing Lakers fans to witness the skillset he mentioned come to fruition.
The Long Beach native is returning home to play for the Lakers, giving him his first chance to compete for a championship and learn what it takes to be a championship-level player. Getting Wood on a veteran minimum contract appears to have more upside than downside for filling the 14th roster position.
Wood thinks he and Davis will make a ‘crazy pairing.’
When Wood first signed with L.A., supporters were excited about the possibility of him playing alongside Davis. Wood believes the two would create a ‘crazy combo,’ and it seems likely that Ham would experiment with the two big guys playing together.