Category: Los Angeles Lakers Blog

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Lakers sign Christian Wood

The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward/center Christian Wood, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Wood (6’10”, 223) most recently appeared in 67 games (17 starts) with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2022-23 season, averaging 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks in 25.9 minutes per game, while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range. Last season, the California native notched 12 double-doubles and scored in double figures in 54 games, including 25 contests scoring 20 or more points. Wood blocked at least one shot in 42 games last season, including 17 games with multiple rejections and two games in which he swatted a season-best five shots.

Per the LA Times, it’s “a two-year deal with a player option for the second year. Wood will make the veteran’s minimum, which for him is $2.7 million this season. In terms of talent versus cost, it’s an absolute bargain. The 6-foot-10, soon-to-be 28-year-old Wood is one of only a handful of players in the NBA with his size and skills. Last season, only six players 6-10 or taller made at least 37% of their three-points shots while taking more than 250 attempts. Wood was one of them — along with Lauri Markkanen, Brook Lopez, Kristaps Porzingis, Bobby Portis and Michael Porter Jr.”

Across seven NBA seasons with Dallas, Houston (2020-22), Detroit (2019-20), New Orleans (2018-19), Milwaukee (2018-19), Charlotte (2016-17) and Philadelphia (2015-16), the 27-year-old has appeared in 289 career games (139 starts), posting averages of 14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Wood played two collegiate seasons (2013-15) at UNLV, appearing in 63 total games (34 starts) and averaging 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game.

Lakers will unveil Kobe Bryant statue outside of team’s arena on February 8, 2024

On 2.8.24, fans can forever pay tribute to beloved Lakers Legend and five-time champion Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers and Vanessa Bryant announced today that they will unveil Kobe Bryant’s bronze statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 8, 2024, prior to the Lakers’ home game that evening.

“As you know, Kobe played his entire 20-year NBA career as a Los Angeles Laker,” said Vanessa Bryant in a video to fans posted at 8:24 this morning. “Since arriving in this city and joining the Lakers organization, he felt at home here, playing in the City of Angels. On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters and me, I am so honored that, right in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as the house that Kobe built, we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever.”

Following his retirement, Kobe Bryant participated in the initial planning of the anticipated statue to come at Star Plaza. This is the first in a series of physical tributes to honor his legacy. Bryant will be the seventh Laker to be commemorated with a statue, joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn. The statue was created by renowned sculptor Julie Rotblatt Amrany of the Fine Art Studio of Rotblatt Amrany.

“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time, and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” said Jeanie Buss, Los Angeles Lakers Governor. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here, at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”

The Feb. 8 ceremony will be outside the arena and details will be released in the coming months.

“Kobe’s transcendent spirit is always and forever in our hearts – inspiring us every day,” said Rob Pelinka, Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager. “And now, with the unveiling of this powerful and beautiful statue, he will have a physical presence, too. A place on the hallowed ground Kobe created, where we can all gather and pay honor to a mighty and great man.”

Lakers sign Alex Fudge to two-way contract, and waive Cole Swider

The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Alex Fudge to a two-way contract, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

In a related move, the Lakers requested waivers on two-way forward Cole Swider.

Fudge (6’9”, 192) appeared in 61 career games (12 starts) across two seasons at the University of Florida (2022-23) and Louisiana State University (2021-22). In 2022-23, Fudge posted averages of 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19.3 minutes in 32 games (11 starts) as a Gator. The 20-year-old most recently appeared in five games for Los Angeles at NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Swider appeared in seven games for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game. In NBA G League action, the 24-year-old appeared in 27 games (19 starts) for the South Bay Lakers during the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.7 minutes per contest. Swider was originally signed by the Lakers out of Syracuse University on July 1, 2022.

Lakers sign rookies Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and rookie forward Maxwell Lewis.

Selected by the Lakers with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Hood-Schifino (6’6”, 215) averaged 13.5 points (.417 FG%, .333 3P%), 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 32 games (all starts) in his lone season at Indiana University. The 2022-23 Big Ten Freshman of the Year also earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors and ranked ninth in the conference in total assists (117).

Lewis (6’7”, 205) averaged 14.6 points (.453 FG%, .354 3P%), 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 52 career games (33 starts) across two seasons (2021-23) at Pepperdine University. The 2022-23 All-WCC Second Team honoree posted averages of 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his final collegiate season. Lewis, selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Lakers on June 22 as part of a four-team trade.

Lakers sign Jaxson Hayes

The Los Angeles Lakers signed center Jaxson Hayes, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Hayes (7’0”, 217) joins the purple and gold after spending the last four seasons (2019-23) with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 23-year-old appeared in 47 games (two starts) in 2022-23 and registered averages of 5.0 points (.551 FG%) and 2.8 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game.

In 241 career NBA games (47 starts), Hayes has averaged 7.5 points (.622 FG%) and 4.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per contest. Hayes has recorded seven games with at least 20 points in his career and has shot over 60.0 percent from the field in three of his four NBA seasons. The Norman, Okla., native appeared in six postseason contests (all starts) following the 2021-22 season, averaging 5.8 points (.560 FG%) and 2.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.

Hayes was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Texas. In one season with the Longhorns (2018-19), where he was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree, he averaged 10.0 points (.728 FG%), 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game. Hayes ranked fourth in the league in blocked shots (71), helping him earn a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.

Lakers sign Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge to two-way contracts

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday signed center Colin Castleton and guard D’Moi Hodge to two-way contracts.

Castleton (6’11”, 231) appeared in 26 games (all starts) in his final campaign at the University of Florida last season, averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.0 blocks in 31.2 minutes per contest, earning him All-SEC First Team honors. The 2023 All-SEC Defensive Team selection led the conference in blocks per game, good for the third-best mark in the NCAA. Across five seasons at Florida (2020-23) and the University of Michigan (2018-20), Castleton posted averages of 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

Hodge (6’4”, 185) most recently played his final collegiate season at the University of Missouri (2022-23) where he averaged 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.6 steals in 29.1 minutes per game, while shooting an SEC-best 40.0 percent from 3-point range. The British Virgin Islands native led the conference in both total steals (91) and steals per game as a Tiger. Prior to Missouri, Hodge played at Cleveland State University (2020-22) and the State College of Florida (2018-20).

Both players will suit up for the 2023 Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League team.

D’Angelo Russell reportedly re-signing with Lakers

Per ESPN.com:

Co-heads of CAA Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz, along with Antonio Russell, have confirmed that D’Angelo Russell has an agreement on a two-year, $37 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A player option for the next year is part of the agreement.

In a three-team trade involving the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz, Russell, who was originally selected by the Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, returned to Los Angeles in February. He came from the Wolves to take the place of departing Russell Westbrook.

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Lakers waive Mo Bamba and Shaquille Harrison

The Los Angeles Lakers requested waivers on center Mo Bamba and guard Shaquille Harrison, it was announced today.

Bamba appeared in nine games (one start) for the Lakers last season, averaging 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. The 25-year-old appeared in three postseason games for Los Angeles, averaging 1.0 rebounds in 3.3 minutes. Bamba was acquired by Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Harrison played in eight postseason games for Los Angeles last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 assists in 3.5 minutes per game. The 29-year-old was signed by the Lakers on April 9.

Lakers extend qualifying offers to Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday extended qualifying offers to forward Rui Hachimura and guard Austin Reaves.

As a result of the qualifying offers, Hachimura and Reaves become restricted free agents.

After joining Los Angeles via trade from Washington on Jan. 23, Hachimura appeared in 33 games (nine starts) and averaged 9.6 points (.485 FG%) and 4.7 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per contest to end the 2022-23 regular season. Overall, Hachimura appeared in 63 games (nine starts) with the Lakers and Wizards last season and averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. During the 2023 NBA Playoffs with the purple and gold, Hachimura averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 16 games (one start), shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 48.7 percent from 3-point range, good for the sixth-best mark in the playoffs. The 25-year-old was the only player in the 2023 NBA Playoffs to shoot at least 55 percent from the field (min. 10 FGA), 48 percent from 3-point range and 88 percent from the free-throw line. On April 16 versus Memphis, Hachimura scored 29 points (11-14 FG, 3-6 3FG) to go with six rebounds and one assist off the bench, tying Mychal Thompson in 1988 for the most points scored by a Lakers reserve in a playoff game. Hachimura then finished with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal on April 19 at the Grizzlies, becoming the first Lakers player since Magic Johnson in 1996 to score 20+ points off the bench in consecutive playoff games.

In the 2022-23 campaign, Reaves appeared in 64 games (22 starts) for the Lakers, averaging 13.0 points (.529 FG%, .398 3P%), 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.8 minutes. Reaves joined Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard as the only players in the league to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 85 percent from the free-throw line (min. 200 FTM). The 25-year-old scored in double figures in 42 games, including 10 games with 20+ points and one 30-point performance. On March 19 versus Orlando, Reaves finished with a career-high 35 points (9-14 FG, 16-18 FT) while adding six rebounds and six assists, becoming the first undrafted Lakers player to score 35+ points and just the second player in team history to tally 35+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists off the bench. In his second season with the Lakers, Reaves improved his career averages in scoring and assists, as well as his shooting percentages from the field, 3-point range and the charity stripe. In 16 playoff games (all starts) last season, Reaves averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 44.3 percent from long distance and 89.5 percent from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures in 15 of his 16 playoff appearances, including seven games with at least 20 points.

2023-24 Lakers preseason game schedule

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today the team’s 2023-24 preseason schedule, presented by Delta Air Lines. The slate is highlighted by two home games at Crypto.com Arena, as well as contests in Las Vegas and Greater Palm Springs.

Los Angeles will open the preseason on the road at Golden State on Oct. 7 at Chase Center, before heading to Las Vegas for a matchup versus Brooklyn on Oct. 9 inside T-Mobile Arena. The purple and gold will then host two consecutive home games at Crypto.com Arena against Golden State on Oct. 13 and Milwaukee on Oct. 15. The Lakers will finish out the preseason by hosting Phoenix in Greater Palm Springs on Oct. 19 at Acrisure Arena.

Spectrum SportsNet will broadcast all five preseason games as it begins its 12th consecutive season as the exclusive regional broadcast home for Lakers basketball. Additionally, all preseason games can be heard on the team’s flagship radio station, 710 AM ESPNLA, and in Spanish on KWKW 1330 AM.