After injuries robbed the Lakers of some of their depth last season, the team was hoping to improve this season.
This is not a good start – center Christian Wood will miss the start of the season after his knee, the team announced.
Lakers forward/center Christian Wood underwent a successful arthroscopic surgery procedure on his left knee today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Kristofer J. Jones at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Wood will be reevaluated by team doctors in about eight weeks.
– Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) 9 September 2024
Eight weeks would have Wood reevaluated around November 9th, and if things go well will return shortly after (or at least before Thanksgiving). The team did not provide details about the injury other than the fact that it was performed by Dr. Kristofer J. Jones at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Wood underwent a similar procedure last March and did not play with the team after that operation. Having a second one is concerning.
In addition to Wood, Lakers wing and defensive stopper Jarred Vanderbilt could miss training camp and some (or all) of the preseason because he hasn’t fully recovered from a midfoot sprain suffered last February, according to reports. Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Bresnahan. Vanderbilt’s status seems more up in the air than Wood’s.
Wood had impressive flashes last season – he could always score – but never quite fit into Darvin Ham’s system and averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds a night in the 50 games he played. The season before that Wood averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. game in Dallas and was mentioned as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Wood is bouncy and athletic but doesn’t apply that on the defensive end like coaches would hope.
The Lakers are trying to take some of the load off Anthony Davis’ shoulders (and some of the minutes off his legs), which means having Wood to start the season spikes. It means more run off the bench for Jaxson Hayes to start the season. Davis remains the best Lakers center by far, but with Wood now to start the season, other guys could get some small ball at the five, including Vanderbilt and LeBron James.
