Los Angeles Lakers backup big man Christian Wood will stay with the team for the next season after choosing to keep his $3 million player option, according to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto.
Wood didn't wait until the June 29 deadline to opt in. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Lakers would have saved $1 million if Wood had opted out of his player option and then re-signed for the one-year veteran minimum.
Before he chose to keep his player option, Wood hinted about his decision on X, previously known as Twitter.
“I really enjoyed my first year playing for my hometown team,” Wood posted on X on May 3. “I wish I wasn’t hurt most of the season, but all in all, it was a dream come true for me. I will be better and 100% healthy next season.”
Wood feels there is more to do in Los Angeles after not being able to play during the Lakers’ first-round loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets due to a knee injury.
Whether the Lakers will keep him or trade him in a bigger deal this offseason is uncertain.
Wood, 28, struggled to find his place in former Lakers coach Darvin Ham’s rotation last season, averaging a six-year low of 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds off the bench across 50 games.
The 6-foot-9 forward agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Lakers last summer, which was widely celebrated as a steal for a player who averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds the previous season. But there was a reason why the Dallas Mavericks let him walk away for nothing.
Wood never gained the complete trust of the recently fired Ham, who relied more on Jarred Vanderbilt (when he was healthy) and Jaxson Hayes for their defense and rim protection in the Lakers second unit.
Hiring a new coach is the Lakers’ main goal.
Besides Wood, the Lakers have four more players on last season’s roster who have player options, including superstar LeBron James.
But before James decides, the Lakers’ top focus is hiring a new coach.
Two of their top candidates have already been eliminated.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who previously coached James to an NBA title in Cleveland, clearly rejected the Lakers' interest and wants to re-sign with their crosstown rival long-term.
“I don’t really have a comment on that,” Lue told reporters following the Clippers’ first-round exit last week. “I mean it’s great to be wanted you know that’s a really good feeling but like I said I want to be here and hopefully we’re able to solidify that.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who formed a strong relationship with James and Anthony Davis during their 2020 title run inside the Orlando bubble while serving as an assistant under Frank Vogel, signed a multi-year extension on Monday, May 6, to stay in Dallas.
LeBron James is expected to come back
Even though James publicly stated that he hasn't made up his mind about his future, the belief is that he will return to the Lakers next season.
However, it's unclear whether he will keep his $51.4 million player option or opt out and re-sign an extension.
“At this point, all the signs suggest he will stay with the Lakers. We’re not sure yet what the structure will be,” NBA insider Marc Stein said on the May 3 edition of his “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast. “The true question is what type of trade the Lakers can do to improve their roster.”
