While the Lakers are continuing to overcome injuries amid a playoff push, the team provided an update on backup center Christian Wood, who was sidelined during the All-Star break with swelling in his left knee.
With Wood potentially missing the rest of the regular season, who could the Lakers call upon to help with their depleted center depth?
Lakers News: Injury Update on Christian Wood, Plus Who Could Step Up
Background
In 50 games this season, Wood averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and one assist per contest on .466/.307/.702 splits. He had several solid performances prior to his absence, averaging 5.7 points on 41% shooting in February.
With Wood sidelined, Jaxson Hayes has taken the reins as Anthony Davis’s backup. Post All-Star break—and in 14 minutes per contest—the 23-year-old has put up five points and four rebounds per game on 69% shooting from the field. Last night against the Hawks, Hayes played 17 minutes and finished with seven points, three rebounds and a block. In Davis’s absence during the Warriors game, Hayes had seven points and a season-high 12 rebounds in 28 minutes. He discussed his approach when Davis is off the floor in a postgame interview:
“For me, it was just trying to do all the little things right. It was a real strategic defensive game and we just had to crash the glass because I knew AD was gone.”
Though it’s laudable that Hayes has improved in minutes without AD—and continues to learn from him—both of them can’t hold down the fort by themselves. As a result, Darvin Ham may have to use one of LA’s two-way players for extra help in the frontcourt.
An Opportunity for Harry Giles III?
The Lakers signed 25-year-old center Harry Giles III to a two-way contract earlier this month. The former Duke Blue Devil was drafted 20th overall by the Kings in 2017 but has dealt with serious knee injuries throughout his career. In four years and on just as many teams, Giles has put up 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 51% from the field.
Though Giles has only played in garbage time with the Lakers, he’s made an impact for their G League affiliate. In four games with the South Bay Lakers, Giles has averaged a near double-double: 11.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 46% shooting from the field and 27% from three. He last played for South Bay on Mar. 11 against the Westchester Knicks. Despite the loss, he tallied nine points (3/6 FG, 1/2 3PT, 1/1 FT), eight rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers brought Giles in knowing that Wood would initially miss two weeks. With his timeline for a return now delayed further, Giles could very well see some more action with LA. He has worked hard to be a steady presence on both ends of the floor, whether it’s scoring at the rim, crashing the glass, or protecting the paint with his 7-foot-3 wingspan. Every once in a while, he can even pull off moves like this:
No matter his contributions, Giles’s presence is critical for the short-staffed Lakers. As LA gears up to face healthier teams with threats at the five, he deserves more opportunities to show his talent as he rebounds from an injury-riddled past.
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