What the Lakers' Alex Len Signing Says About Christian Wood’s Future

The Lakers’ decision to sign Alex Len and waive Christian Wood isn’t just a routine roster move—it’s a statementabout Wood’s standing in the NBA. While most of the attention is on how Len can help a depleted frontcourt, the real story is what this move says about Wood’s declining value around the league.

Not long ago, Christian Wood was one of the most intriguing bigs in the league. Back in 2020-21, he averaged 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the Houston Rockets, flashing floor-spacing ability and three-level scoringthat made him look like a modern offensive weapon. Houston signed him to a three-year, $41 million deal, and his future seemed secure.

Fast forward to last summer, and Wood was still expected to land a meaningful contract. Instead, he settled for a veteran minimum deal with the Lakers—a red flag that teams weren’t sold on his value anymore. Now? He’s been waived midseason by a team that just lost Anthony Davis in a trade.

If there was ever a moment for Wood to step up, this was it. The Lakers needed size, needed scoring, needed a frontcourt presence—and they still chose to move on. Instead of expanding Wood’s role, they opted for Alex Len, a traditional rim-protector with zero offensive versatility. That decision speaks volumes.

This isn’t just about stats or skillset—it’s about effort, defense, and trust. Wood’s talent has never been in question, but his defensive lapses and inconsistent motor have followed him everywhere he’s been. His struggles as a rim protector and team defender have made it hard for coaches to keep him on the floor, and even on a Lakers team desperate for big-man depth, his offensive upside wasn’t enough to justify keeping him.

Len, meanwhile, is the opposite. He sets screens, plays physical, and defends the paint. He’s never going to be a featured scorer, but the Lakers clearly valued reliability over offensive skill.