Lakers Release Player After ‘Kiss of Death’ Social Media Post
Christian Wood’s misfortune reached a peak on Tuesday, February 11, when the Los Angeles Lakers waived him and signed free agent center Alex Len, marking an end to Wood’s time with the team.
Wood had tweeted on X, “Progressing… I’ll be back soon,” in response to a Lakers fan, unaware that his return from knee surgery would not be with the Lakers.
According to Jovan Buha from The Athletic, Wood had already experienced bad luck twice before, just after announcing he was close to returning from an injury that kept him out since February 14 of the previous year.
Buha highlighted Wood’s “kiss of death” on social media, noting that after two previous setbacks when he tweeted about his recovery, he was waived just 30 minutes after his latest social media post. Buha had predicted this outcome, speculating on his podcast, “Buha’s Block,” that the Lakers’ decisions would come down to either Wood, Cam Reddish, or Shake Milton.
Buha believed that Wood’s place on the roster would only make sense if the Lakers were confident in his quick return. Otherwise, the team needed a big man immediately.
With a career 37.2% three-point shooting rate, Wood could have contributed as a stretch center in small-ball lineups. However, his persistent knee issues prevented him from staying in the game.
Dopirak mentioned that the Lakers’ shifting needs at center also played a role in the decision. After retracting their trade for center Mark Williams from the Hornets, the Lakers found themselves back in need of a big man, prompting the acquisition of Len.
Len, who was waived by the Washington Wizards after being traded from the Sacramento Kings, averaged just 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds this season. A 12-year veteran, Len had his best year in 2018-19 with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds. Though his career has declined, he still provides depth to the Lakers’ center rotation.
Hayes, who has been a career backup, stepped into a starting role following an injury to Anthony Davis and a trade involving Luka Dončić. In his six starts, Hayes has averaged 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals, with an impressive 82.1% shooting from the field, mainly from dunks.
Hayes, a rim-running center and lob threat, has benefited from the trade and Lakers’ decisions, including the failure of the trade for Williams. His recent performance, including a season-high 12 points in a game against Doncic on February 10, has solidified his role as the Lakers’ starting center.