Christian Koloko showed real promise during his rookie season in Toronto, a mobile 7-foot rim-protecting center whose offensive game has improved. However, that all came to a screeching halt as he suffered from a blood clotting problem that sidelined him all of last season – his fate was in the hands of the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel, which deals with players who may be life-threatening. conditions or injuries. That body said he couldn’t exercise or play. When the Raptors released Koloko last January, no team took him for it.
That has changed. Koloko is set to be released to return to play, and the Lakers are frontrunners to land the Cameroon native who played his high school ball in Southern California, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Raptors, Clippers and Spurs are also interested in Koloko, according to the report.
Koloko is still awaiting official approval from the Fitness-to-Play Panel but can sign now, the report adds. In July, Koloko’s agent (Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports) said his client “had major success with his blood clotting issue. They found the issue and he had corrective surgery.” Andrews said Koloko is off blood thinners, which is key to his return to play, and there was video this summer of him in a 5-on-5 workout with some NBA players.
All of that is great news for Koloko. In his rookie season, after being drafted number 33 out of Arizona, he averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and a block a night in 13.8 minutes per game, and he entered 58 games. What was impressive wasn’t the raw numbers but the potential he showed, especially on the defensive end.
The Lakers need depth in the center with Christin Wood missing the start of the season following a kneeoscopyespecially since Anthony Davis let the Lakers know he would like to spend less time at the five. The Lakers have Jaxson Hayes at center but could use more depth, Koloko would fit right in. The Lakers already have 15 guaranteed contracts on the books — the maximum they can carry into next season — so the Lakers would have to give up someone to get Koloko. on the full-time roster. However, they could give up one of their two-way guys — Armel Traore, Blake Hinson, Colin Castleton — and give Koloko a two-way contract that lets him be with the team to start the season when he’s needed but also gives him. a chance to play in the G-League some and start polishing his game again.
Two-way can be what each team offers to Koloko. The Clippers and Spurs both have 15 guaranteed contracts on the books, while the Raptors have 14, and Bruno Fernando on a non-guaranteed deal.
Whatever the contract, it will be good to see Koloko on an NBA court again.
