Lakers sign Wood to reported 2-year deal with player option
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Wednesday they have signed free-agent big man Christian Wood.
Los Angeles did not share contract details, but Wood penned a two-year deal that includes a player option for the second year, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
He will earn $2.7 million in 2023-24 and, if he exercises his option, a $3-million salary in 2024-25, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN.
The 27-year-old Wood confirmed the signing on social media minutes after the initial report.
It’s always been my dream to be a laker 💜💛
— 35 (@Chriswood_5) September 6, 2023
Wood entered free agency after spending the 2022-23 campaign with the Dallas Mavericks. He started 17 of 67 games last season and averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He also shot 37.6% from beyond the arc on 4.2 attempts per contest.
While the Mavs were slightly better offensively with the UNLV product on the court (115.4 offensive rating compared to 114.6 with him off), the team allowed 3.1 points per 100 possessions more when he played.
The Houston Rockets traded Wood to Dallas in June 2022 after two seasons with the franchise, which initially acquired him in a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons in 2020. In 109 appearances with Houston, Wood registered a virtual double-double of 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds while hitting threes at a 38.4% rate.
Wood has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, and New Orleans Pelicans during his career. The Lakers will be his eighth franchise in eight NBA seasons.