Lakers big man Christian Wood has exercised his player option for 2024-25, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The move guarantees Wood’s $3M salary for next season, postponing his free agency until 2025.
Wood, 28, remained on the free agent market for over two months last summer despite averaging 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25.9 minutes per game across 67 appearances for Dallas in 2022-23. He eventually signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with the Lakers that featured a player option on the second season.
Wood played a limited role in Los Angeles, averaging 6.9 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 50 games (17.4 MPG). His shooting percentages — 46.6% from the floor and 30.7% on three-pointers — were both well below his career rates, and his season came to an early end when he was sidelined by a left knee injury in February that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery in March.
The veteran forward/center was technically cleared to play in the final two games of L.A.’s first-round series vs. Denver, but the club opted not to use him after such a long layoff.
Given how much trouble he had finding a favorable deal in free agency a year ago, it’s no surprise that Wood opted into the second year of his existing contract after a down season that ended with a major injury. His option decision doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be back in Los Angeles for 2024-25, since he could be a trade candidate this offseason.
Wood is the second player to pick up a player option this spring, joining Bulls guard Lonzo Ball. The full list of pending player option decisions — which features four more Lakers, including LeBron James — can be found right here.
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