Lakers Reported Frontrunners To Sign Christian Koloko

The Los Angeles Lakers are frontrunners to sign free agent center Christian Koloko, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Along with the Lakers, the LA Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors have expressed an interest.

Koloko, 24, is 7-foot-1 and played 58 games with the Raptors during the 2022-23 season. He started 19 of those games and compiled averages of 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks for the year. He missed all of last season after being diagnosed with a blood clot.

But agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports said in August that Koloko had a “major breakthrough” with the issue after undergoing surgery. He has since been cleared to resume playing, per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.

Koloko also held a private workout for multiple teams at the Las Vegas Summer League in July, and has taken part in five-on-five and full-contact sessions this offseason. He is awaiting clearance from the NBA, as Charania noted, but is eligible to sign with anyone immediately.

The Lakers are one of just three NBA teams to have not signed an outside free agent to a standard deal (along with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers). And given that LA will be without injured center Christian Wood until at least mid-November, it would make sense if they were in the market for another big man.

That said, it’s unclear whether Koloko would be signed to such a contract — considering the Lakers already have 15 players with standard deals and are close to the dreaded second tax apron as is. The Clippers and Spurs are also at the 15-player threshold, with the Raptors at 14.