Lakers could bite back at Warriors with savvy vet minimum signing
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during a 104-101 Lakers win in game four of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Lakers and the Warriors are two giants of the West making big money moves this offseason. Recent rumors have L.A. snatching up a key depth piece for cheap.
A day after the Warriors signed forward Dario Saric, the Los Angeles Lakers may be looking to bring on a veteran minimum signing of their own.
The offseason dance between the Lakers and the Warriors has played out like a tense game of checkers: L.A. extended Austin Reaves. The Warriors extended Draymond Green. L.A. held onto Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell. The Warriors traded for Chris Paul, and they most recently acquired Saric on a one-year deal.
Your move, L.A.
The Lakers have been smart with their money so far this summer as many would agree the franchise is putting together quite a productive offseason.
Having retained several key roster pieces and added depth in the form of Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Gabe Vincent, the Lakers have been improving their backcourt to stay on pace with their rivals and build another playoff-contending squad.
Could the team’s next shrewd move be signing someone on the vet minimum?
Saric gives the Warriors size and playmaking off the bench. Someone like Christian Wood could perhaps serve that same role in L.A.
Lakers could be incentivized to bring on Christian Wood this offseason
Jake Fischer: I haven’t heard any new info on Christian Wood in a week. The last thing I heard was there was some Lakers interest for a vet minimum. — Lobos (@LobosTequila) July 9, 2023
According to Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer, Fischer doesn’t believe an NBA team would offer Wood more than the minimum this summer.
The Mavericks’ former big man has bounced around on a host of different teams in his five-year career and was traded to Dallas this past season. For a brief window of time, the Mavs were believed to be serious championship chasers until… the Kyrie-Luka connection fizzled out, and Wood lost his chance to compete for glory.
In 2022, Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game; however, a short-term injury during the season sent him to the bench in late January and he never recovered.
Wood’s already had a career’s worth of fresh starts — what’s one more with the Lakers?
L.A. could use the extra size and depth behind Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes, and Wood offers quite a bit of offensive upside with his three-point shooting and elite rebounding and play in the paint. On a proven playoff heavyweight like the Lakers, Wood can continue to improve his defense under the tutelage of Darvin Ham as well as develop under the wing of one of the game’s best centers in Davis.
This looks like a win-win for Lakers and Wood, albeit rumors are just rumors at the end of the day.
Source: FanSided
