(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers headed into the NBA offseason with the goal of keeping the roster intact while also adding a few pieces to the puzzle through NBA free agency.
GM Rob Pelinka and company accomplished that feat with flying colors, as the team did much better than expected, and some believed that without making a blockbuster trade, the Lakers arguably won the offseason with what they were able to do.
However, things didn’t stop at re-signing players like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell or adding Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Jaxson Hayes, as the front office was also able to get a last-second steal in the form of versatile big man Christian Wood.
Apparently, the Lakers brass were courting Wood all summer long in hopes that the Long Beach native would want to come back to California to play for his hometown team, which left an impression on him, as Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham were relentless in their pursuit, via LakeShow.
“A big thing I would say is Rob [Pelinka] and Darvin, them doing their recruiting — I should say — really well. My agent got to talk to Rob almost every single day, I talked to Darvin Ham every single day.”
Christian Wood on why he signed with the Lakers #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/owqEGvTz3V
— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) October 3, 2023
Wood may very well turn out to be the piece needed for this veteran team to compete for an NBA title during the 2023-24 campaign, with the Western Conference being as tough as ever with the defending champion Denver Nuggets leading the way.
Adding Wood gives the Lakers much more flexibility in the paint, as there won’t be so much pressure on superstar Anthony Davis to do all the work in the frontcourt while risking his health, which has been shaky as best, throughout the season.
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