Key Lakers Frontcourt Member Decides on Player Option

Implications for the Lakers

Christian Wood’s return and his promise to remain healthy are encouraging signs for the Lakers and their fans. The veteran provided a spark off the bench and increased the Lakers’ presence in the paint. Though his scoring was inconsistent, Wood’s defense and rebounding were critical for the team throughout the season, as was the case against the Phoenix Suns at the beginning of the year.

As Wood mentioned, his health will be vital for the Lakers next season. Though Davis played a career-best 76 games this year, part of his success can be attributed to the solid play of Wood off the bench. The backup center made the most of his minutes so Davis wouldn’t have to overcompensate for a lack of production from his backups. Wood’s ability to step up when called upon was huge for LA last season, and he’ll look to build on that trend when October comes around.

But despite Wood’s decision, don’t assume the Lakers are done looking at frontcourt free agents. The Lakers’ lack of size against Denver—compared to the Timberwolves’ abundance of it now—emphasizes the need for a legitimate starting center next to Davis and LeBron James. So, Wood may still hang onto his backup role, but it may not necessarily be for AD. Whether it’s through a trade or free agency, more help may be on the way for the Lakers’ depth in the middle. Through it all, Wood should remain a prominent part of the next head coach’s rotation, given his value on both ends of the floor.