The intense competition of the NBA regular season continues, with trade rumors among teams heating up as well. Many All-Star level players have been put on the trading block, such as Butler from the Heat, Beal from the Suns, and LaVine from the Bulls. Some teams are looking to strengthen their rosters through trades due to existing weaknesses. The Lakers are one of these teams. So far this season, the Lakers have a record of 20 wins and 15 losses, ranking fifth in the Western Conference. While their win rate is still decent, they still have a significant gap from the top-tier championship-contending teams in the league. James, now 40 years old, has seen a slight decline in his scoring ability and team influence compared to previous seasons, mainly due to his inconsistent form, sometimes only scoring around 10 points per game with fluctuating outside shooting.
As for Davis, he is not getting any younger, and with frequent injuries in recent years, he not only carries an injury risk but also lacks the interior dominance he once had. When facing centers like Jokic, he is often overpowered. Therefore, the Lakers need a stronger rotation lineup to alleviate the pressure on the James-Davis duo. Looking at the stats, the Lakers' basic numbers rank in the upper half of the league, with an average of 112.3 points per game (13th in the league), 26.5 assists (12th), a shooting percentage of 47.3% (9th), and an offensive efficiency of 113.1 (11th). However, the Lakers still have obvious shortcomings, such as their interior play, where they average 41.6 rebounds per game (26th in the league), and defensively, with an average of 7.6 steals (23rd) and a defensive efficiency of 114.9 (21st).
To address these weaknesses, the Lakers have been actively seeking reinforcements in the market. Earlier, they made a trade with the Nets, sending away Russell and welcoming Finney-Smith, who possesses 3D attributes, to enhance the team's depth and alleviate defensive deficiencies. However, this is not enough. According to NBA reporter Evan Sidery, after acquiring Smith, the Lakers began preparing for their next move, reaching out to various contacts in search of potential upgrades at the center position. Potential targets include Vucevic from the Bulls, Robert Williams from the Blazers, and Valanciunas from the Wizards. Indeed, the Lakers' interior resources are relatively scarce, with only Davis capable of playing the 5 spot. Hayes and Korkmaz, the other options, have limited personal abilities, combining for less than 8 points per game.
In fact, the Lakers did have a capable player in their interior, one who even had near-All-Star level skills: Wood. In the summer offseason of 23, Wood accepted LeBron's invitation and signed a two-year minimum salary contract with the Lakers, earning 2.7millioninthe23−24seasonand3 million this season. As an undrafted player, Wood started off with humble beginnings, changing teams six times in his first five seasons, mostly serving as a benchwarmer with less than 10 minutes of playing time per game on average. It wasn't until he joined the Rockets in 2020 that Wood experienced a turning point. At that time, the Rockets were experiencing conflicts between Harden and management, leading to a split. The team quickly became a rebuilding squad with players like Wall, Oladipo, Gordon, and Cousins, all either injured or aging. Wood seized the opportunity to showcase himself.
In the 20-21 season, Wood averaged 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game with the Rockets, becoming their top scorer and core leader. In the following 21-22 season, Wood continued to perform, averaging a double-double with 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, with a three-point shooting percentage of 39.0%, evolving from an undrafted player to a team leader and near-All-Star level talent. After joining the Mavericks in the 22-23 season, although Wood's tactical status declined, he still managed to contribute solid numbers with an average of 17 points and 7 rebounds per game, serving as the third option behind Doncic and Irving. Offensively, Wood is technically skilled, excelling in post-up plays and possessing outside shooting capabilities, able to create space for the team. It was indeed a successful operation for the Lakers to acquire Wood at a minimum salary, and Wood himself hoped to join a high-profile team like the Lakers to compete for championships.
However, no one could have predicted that after joining the Lakers, Wood's performance would plummet. Last season, he could only average 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, with his scoring average dropping by 10 points and all three shooting percentages decreasing by more than 5 percentage points compared to the previous season. Upon arriving at the Lakers, Wood's flaws were magnified, such as his poor defense and the need for ball possession to find his rhythm on offense, which was not compatible with the Lakers' tactical system. These issues weren't the most critical, though; what mattered most was that after joining the Lakers, Wood was once again plagued by injuries. He missed the rest of the season last March due to fluid accumulation in his left knee and has yet to play this season. Wood's absence is also a significant reason for the Lakers' lack of interior strength this season. It is unfortunate that after shining for two years with the Rockets, Wood quickly fell from grace and lost his value with the Lakers. The Lakers are now set to use Wood as a trade chip to acquire more powerful frontcourt or interior players, including Vanderbilt, who is also likely to be traded by the Lakers.
