While the Lakers decide the exact route they want to go with their final open roster spots, likely through free agency, one thing that’s now known is that they’re targeting a big man. As The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported last week, general manager Rob Pelinka revealed Los Angeles is “looking to add an additional center.”
Going one step further, Buha reported the Lakers have an interest in two free-agent big men—Christian Wood and Bismack Biyombo. While either name would make for an intriguing fit, their potential impacts are different (Wood’s offensive abilities and Biyombo’s defensive skills). However, there appears to be a potential issue with signing Wood.
As longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein cited in his subscriber chat for The Stein Line, Wood is “by far” the most talented big man available, but the Lakers are “obviously restricted in what they can offer.” While the Lakers’ previously reported interest aligns here, it also points to the likely scenario in which the former Mavericks big man could be looking for compensation beyond what Los Angeles can offer.
