Free agent forward/heart Christian Wooden has agreed on a two-year, $5.7 million contend with the Los Angeles Lakers that functions a participant chance for the 2024-25 season, sources suggested ESPN on Tuesday evening.
Wooden will get an different to make a contribution to a Western Conference contender and restore his price in the marketplace for a return to free company in 2024 — and the Lakers win a talented colossal man who’ll give them well-known frontline versatility and depth.
The advent of Wooden, alongside with the free agent signing of seven-footer Jaxson Hayes, seemingly method Anthony Davis would possibly be required to play fewer minutes at heart this season.
Wooden averaged 16.6 functions and 7.3 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks in 2022-23, including a 30-point, 8-rebound, 4-rob efficiency in a Christmas Day victory over the Lakers.
Wooden, who turns 28 later this month, affords the Lakers the ability to stretch the floor in the frontcourt. He was one among four gamers 6-foot-10 or taller to invent 100 3-pointers in every of the past two seasons, in preserving with ESPN Stats & Recordsdata. The others had been Nikola Vucevic, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Wooden has averaged 38% on 3-pointers over the past four seasons and joins a Lakers crew that shot handiest 34% closing season, 25th in the league.
Wooden comes to L.A. after spending a season with the Mavericks and the earlier two with the Houston Rockets.
