Lakers Linked to Christian Wood, Bismack Biyombo

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka isn’t keeping secrets about how the team intends to fill out the roster.

“We are actively in the market to add another big,” Pelinka told reporters, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Well, there are some out there (as the Hoops Wire free agency list reveals). For instance, Tristan Thompson, who finished last season in LA, is again available. So are the likes of Nerlens Noel, Serge Ibaka and Derrick Favors. All are veteran bigs who have been around winning.

And per Buha, the likes of Christian Wood and Bismack Biyombo are actually under consideration for the 14th roster spot.

Wood spent last season with the Mavericks and had a pretty decent. Ideally, Pelinka would like to find someone whose skillset is different than that of free agent signee Jaxson Hayes. Wood definitely fits such a description.

“I think dimensionalizing the skills at that position would be important,” Pelinka said, via Buha. “So we don’t want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”

Meanwhile, Biyombo has his own set of positives as a big and athletic brute around the basket. He spent each of the past two seasons with the Suns.

It’s not yet known who specifically the Lakers will add. But they have some flexibility, they have a roster spot, and from the sounds of things, a desire to get bigger.

The Lakers are “actively” seeking another center to shore up their frontcourt.

Centers Christian Wood and Bismack Biyombo are in consideration for LA’s 14th roster spot, sources told @TheAthleticNBA.

On the center search, LeBron and AD’s health and more: https://t.co/p5QPeZCyAU

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 10, 2023