The Los Angeles Lakers have been relying on Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes as their only real centers, making the need for Christian Wood’s return even more important.
Wood had knee surgery before training camp and was initially given an eight-week timeline for re-evaluation. He had been feeling fine until one day, after rehab, he woke up with swelling in his knee. This led to an MRI and another surgery.
It’s been a tough road for Wood, who could really help the Lakers with his size and ability to shoot from outside. Unfortunately, he suffered another setback during his recovery, experiencing soreness while getting back into shape, and will now be out for a longer period.
“Christian was ramping up his return to play and he developed some soreness. We’re gonna scale it back and have an update in about four weeks,” head coach JJ Redick said after practice on Tuesday.
Redick went on to explain what Wood was doing before the setback.
“I don’t know the exact point he was at in his return-to-play. I know he was focusing on strengthening his leg and quad. I believe he had started doing some light on-court work before the soreness came back,” Redick said.
Injuries have been a recurring issue for the Lakers, and Wood’s delay adds more pressure on the front office to find solutions for their thin frontcourt. While Hayes has stepped up as Davis’ backup, it’s clear the Lakers need more depth in the big man department.
Wood had picked up his player option for the 2024-25 season with hopes of playing a bigger role under coach Redick, but now he will have to wait a couple more months before making his season debut. Even when he does return, it may take him time to adjust back to playing at an NBA level.
On top of that, there has been no update on Jarred Vanderbilt, who is still recovering from foot surgeries. Both Wood and Vanderbilt could get significant playing time when healthy, but the Lakers might need to think about making a trade sooner to improve their chances.
Lakers Reportedly Targeting Brook Lopez and Jonas Valanciunas as Trade Options
With Wood out for at least eight more weeks, the Lakers are feeling the pressure to add another true center. They have been linked to players like Brook Lopez and Jonas Valanciunas as potential trade targets.
