February 12 – The Los Angeles Lakers added free agent Alex Len on Tuesday to occupy a center position on their roster.
In a related action, the Lakers released forward/center Christian Wood.
Los Angeles tried to obtain a center at the Feb. 6 trade deadline but eventually canceled a trade for Mark Williams of the Charlotte Hornets after he did not pass a physical. The Lakers traded All-Star center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for All-Star guard Luka Doncic before the trade deadline.
Len, 31, competed this season with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 7.2 minutes over 36 games (including three starts).
He was involved in a three-team trade at the league’s deadline that transferred him from the Kings to the Washington Wizards, while the Grizzlies traded Marcus Smart to Washington and the Wizards dealing Marvin Bagley and Johnny Davis to Memphis. The Wizards subsequently released Len.
Len holds career statistics of 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 17.1 minutes over 680 games (240 starts) with the Phoenix Suns (2013-18), Atlanta Hawks (2018-20), Kings (2020, 2021-25), Toronto Raptors (2020-21), and Wizards (2021).
The Suns chose Len as the fifth overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Wood, 29, has yet to play this season following knee surgery in the offseason. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 17.4 minutes over 50 games (with one start) last season.
His career averages include 13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 23.2 minutes over 339 games (with 140 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers (2015-16), Charlotte Hornets (2016-17), Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19), New Orleans Pelicans (2019), Detroit Pistons (2019-20), Houston Rockets (2020-22), Dallas Mavericks (2022-23), and Lakers (2023-24).