Christian Wood Rumors

Shams Charania: The Lakers are waiving Christian Wood to sign Len, sources tell ESPN.

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The Lakers can still waive someone -- Wood or Reddish would be the top candidates, team sources said -- to create a roster vacancy to bring in another center. L.A. still has enough room under the second apron to sign a buyout player, someone making less than $12.8 million with his previous team, for the rest of the season. "We will find another center path," a team source said. "The path is always there. We just got to put in the work to find it."

ESPN

Scott Agness: Myles Turner has been ruled out for Saturday at Lakers due to neck strain suffered in 1Q v Clippers. Luka, Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood are also out. LeBron, Austin Reaves, and Mark Williams are questionable.

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One name that has been brought up extensively as a Lakers target is Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. However, a recent report from Shams Charania on ESPN's First Take made the prospects of that happening seem farfetched (per pickuphoop on X). “They do have some players on this roster–Christian Wood, Jared Vanderbilt, players like Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish–how do you figure out a way to consolidate talent?” wondered Charania. “…Every time they call on Walker Kessler in Utah, that asking price is really high. So that front office is trying to make calls, doing due diligence, but at the end of the day, it takes two teams to tango.”

Clutch Points

As for what’s next, the Lakers will continue to scour the trade market ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline for potential upgrades, according to team and league sources. But the plan, for now, is to see how Finney-Smith looks with the group, get their injured frontcourt players back (Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood) and continue to assess the roster as the deadline approaches. In addition to the first-round picks, they have three pick swaps (2026, 2028 and 2030) and two second-round picks to trade.

New York Times

Dave McMenamin: Lakers practice news: - LeBron and AD went through individual workouts with assistant coach Greg St. Jean at the facility and will participate in the group practice tomorrow, per JJ Redick - Christian Wood will not travel to SAC, but is starting on-court workouts vs. asst coaches

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Dan Woike: Christian Wood is progressing and will practice live against coaching associates this week. He won’t go to Sacramento

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After L.A.'s bench was outscored 65-17 against the Hawks, James said the Lakers' lack of depth is being tested. He rattled off the names of Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes -- all of whom were inactive Friday night -- as players in the "top 11" of the Lakers' would-be rotation if they were healthy. "Mismatching with lineups, we're trying to figure out ways, obviously," James said. "So it's very challenging. We don't have much room for error. ... It's big, big, big, big pieces."

ESPN

Dave McMenamin: Christian Wood getting some standstill shooting in after shootaround Saturday morning pic.x.com/m5OfyGh5Rr

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Jovan Buha: The Lakers have a frontcourt issue and I think it's gotten to the point where it should be of greater priority for them depending on what happens with Jaxson Hayes in his timetable. He did arrive to the game last night in a walking boot though he did tell ESPN that he is optimistic as to being on the shorter end of that one-to-two week timetable. At the same time with the Christian Wood news and the continued non- updates with Jarred Vanderbilt in just the recent history with Gabe Vincent, Kendrick Nunn, etc. I'm a bit skeptical of Jaxson Hayes potentially coming back sooner than later.

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The Lakers still consider adding frontcourt depth behind Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes a priority, sources told ESPN, with Christian Wood yet to play this season and two-way center Christian Koloko a development project.

ESPN

Dave McMenamin: JJ Redick says Christian Wood developed soreness in his knee during his ramp-up process and an update on Wood’s return will come in four weeks.

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Jovan Buha: Lakers’ injury report for tomorrow vs. Phoenix: — Jalen Hood-Schifino (illness) is doubtful. — Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Koloko are out. — Quincy Olivari and Armel Traoré (G League two-way) are also out.

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Dave McMenamin: Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood going through some light, non-contact basketball activities on the court after shootaround in PHX pic.x.com/BtssAietmG

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