4:56 pm: The Lakers have officially signed Len and waived Wood, the team confirmed in a press release.
4:13 pm: Free agent center Alex Len will sign with the Lakers, agent Mike Lelchitski tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
As we wrote earlier today, Len, who was cut by Washington on Saturday, initially planned to sign with the Pacers once he cleared waivers. However, he pivoted to an opportunity in Los Angeles after the Lakers rescinded their trade-deadline deal for Hornets center Mark Williams.
As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star notes (via Twitter), Len would have slotted in as the third center in Indiana behind Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant, but he should have an opportunity with the Lakers to earn the primary backup role behind Jaxson Hayes on a roster that’s thin on frontcourt depth after sending Anthony Davis to Dallas in last week’s Luka Doncic blockbuster.
Len, 31, has been a little-used reserve center over the past three-and-a-half seasons in Sacramento, averaging 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 10.0 minutes per game across 149 total outings (15 starts). The former No. 5 overall pick was traded from the Kings to the Wizards ahead of last Thursday’s deadline.
The Lakers have a full 15-man roster and will have to waive a player in order to make room for Len. According to Charania (Twitter link), that roster casualty will be Christian Wood, who has yet to play this season following offseason surgery on his left knee. That procedure was the second one Wood underwent on his knee in 2024.
In his first season in Los Angeles in 2023/24, Wood averaged 6.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 0.7 BPG in 50 games (17.4 MPG) with a .466/.307/.702 shooting line. He’s on an expiring minimum-salary contract, so the Lakers won’t carry any dead money on their cap for him beyond this season.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, the Lakers entered the day with about $1.6MM in room below their second-apron hard cap. Len’s new deal will nearly trim that margin in half, but the team would still have enough flexibility to add a second player on the buyout market in the coming days or weeks if another opportunity arises. Another player on the current roster would have to be waived in that scenario, with Cam Reddish viewed as the most likely odd man out.
Shocker.
LOL
traitor
Ah, yes, because he had the option of staying with the Kings for the rest of his career. Nice take
Joke.bruh
Time to live up to that number 5 pick where the Phoenix medical staff could have worked wonders with Noel.
Time is now or be out of the league draft bust. You have had plenty of time while others wait. You better show something. Now is your chance.
Now or never
The world is yours
“you better show something” “Now or never”. “Time is now or be out of the league draft bust”
Dude, he’s almost 32 years old and he’s been in the league 11 years. I don’t think the next cuppa months are gonna change a thing,
Alex Len is Alex Len.
11 years seems like a pretty successful NBA career to me
He has earned over $46mil in his career. Not a bad way to make a living.
By all three of your guys standards then Kwame Brown, the Candy man, Anthony Bennett, Darko etc etc are not draft busts because they made alot of money and played for a while.
Come one you three that’s all you have? Hahaha. Go ahead and like each other
Wood needs to be a PF strictly. 6’8 is perfect size. I’m sure he fits somewhere at PF. No way a C
Atlanta?
He’s injured.
Hilarious
Good for Len. He’s a quality teammate and was a casualty to the Kings trade.
Len will contribute more than Wood. Fact!
I agree if he finds his way into a game and is able to grab a rebound he will contribute more than Wood.
Rigged league lmao
Ummm,how?
Its clearly rigged. The league set it up so a C averaging 1.4 PTS and 1.8 Reb a game goes to the Lakers. Len playing with LeBron and Luka will likely for the first time in his career become an elite defender and automatic double double. I predict he averages 18.7 PTS, 13.2 Rebs and 3.7 Blks per game the rest of the season. I dont see the Lakers losing another game
Everything in Daveys eyes is rigged unless it involves the Warriors and the greatness that is known as Steph Curry.
Shell yeah
Too bad Wood couldn’t find his form again. Christian from two years ago would have been a big help right about now.
Go Lukers!
There are reasons that Christian Wood has been with 8 NBA teams including some for whom he put up good offensive stats. He’s not a center and is not a good defensive player at any position. How would he help the Lakers right now? They need size and defense at the center position not another scorer at power forward.
Because they literally have nothing else right now. There are no legitimate options available anywhere. Len was the belle of the ball!!!!!
Christian Wood has a bad locker room reputation. From what I’ve read in the past. Not sure if it’s true.
Here comes the overhype.
Len is garbage, but there’s literally nothing else out there. They’re going to have to patch this thing together with scotch tape and Elmer’s glue.
At this point I would have preferred Castleton. He’s younger, available, and they’re familiar with him.
Is Alex Len really better than JaVale or Dwight?
as underwhelming as Len is, yes he is probably better than those two at this point
Howard is better right now
A quick poll of all 30 GMs and the answer was yes ,Len is better
Lakers are so screwed against any good team with a center with a pulse. Jokic will score 50 without breaking a sweat.
They needed someone 250+ to absorb the IHarts,Zubacs,Adams, Joker best they could for 4 mins a half (*if needed)
Trey Jemesion wasn’t that guy as much as the local fans wanted him to be, Koloko obv wasn’t either
Id save the last spot for Goodwin, drop Cam if he cant get outta the doghouse or Markief if Cam can (doubtful) Cam actually could be useful as a POA defender w length if his head is spun on correct this month (again doubtful) but Kief gives the Dudley feel along with those killer high rising tube socks….K cut Cam
You know you’ve fallen so down on the totem pole, when Alex Len takes your spot.
Alex Len….. exactly what the Lakers need to stop the Joker.
lol, that’s true! But who ya got guarding Luka and Bron? Unstoppable. Go Lukers!!!!!