Lakers sign center Alex Len, waive Christian Wood.
The Lakers have addressed their need at center by signing free agent Alex Len.
In search of a solution at center, the Lakers are set to sign Alex Len, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Len, who was traded to the Wizards in a three-team deal before the trade deadline and then waived, cleared waivers on Tuesday.
To create space on the roster for Len, the Lakers will waive Christian Wood, who has yet to appear in a game this season.
The Lakers made the move official shortly after.
Earlier, Marc Stein, a longtime NBA reporter, mentioned that the Lakers were one of the teams showing interest in Len.
Len has 12 years of NBA experience, with the last four spent in Sacramento. However, his playing time has significantly decreased in recent seasons.
This season, he played 36 games, averaging 7.2 minutes per game, scoring 1.4 points and pulling down 1.8 rebounds per game. Standing at 7’0” and weighing 250 pounds, Len offers a different type of center compared to Jaxson Hayes.
The Lakers were left in a tough situation at center after the Mark Williams trade fell through. With the trade deadline passed, they now turn to the free-agent and buyout markets, where clear solutions are scarce.
The buyout market typically involves players with flaws, seeking better fits. Given the limited options available, the Lakers cannot afford to be too selective.
Len may not be a game-changer, but he provides an active presence, something Christian Wood couldn’t offer, making him an upgrade in that regard.
Wood didn’t play at all this season. After undergoing surgery twice in one year, he suffered a setback in November, and no further updates have been provided.
Even if healthy, Wood’s fit with the Lakers was questionable without Anthony Davis, as the team needed a rim protector, not a floor spacer. His time in Los Angeles ends abruptly.
Following this move, the Lakers still have room to waive one more player and sign another free agent or buyout target. Our Bryan Toporek analyzed the Lakers’ salary cap situation after the trade deadline on Tuesday.