Lakers Sign Christian Wood: The Los Angeles Lakers beefed up their frontline by acquiring veteran forward Christian Wood. According to a team source, Wood has agreed to a two-year deal with the Lakers. The source added that the Los Angeles area native will have his second year as a player option that would potentially allow the 6-foot-10 cager to return to the free agent market next summer. Wood confirmed the deal on social media and said that it has been his dream to become a player of the Lakers.
The acquisition of Wood will help the team as they added a durable frontline piece who can help center-forward Anthony Davis inside the paint. It will also help Davis save some energy while playing as Wood can attract defenses with his reliable offensive moves. The forward will also help the LeBron James-led Lakers become relevant in online sports betting sites once more. They left fans disappointed as they turned into a weak team in last season’s playoffs due to injuries to some key players.
Lakers Sign Christian Wood: Wood to Play for His ‘Dream Team’
The Long Beach native wrote on social media that it is his dream to be a Laker and he is fulfilling his dream after playing for seven National Basketball Association teams in his seven-year career. Now, Wood is on his eighth squad and he hopes he will stay for a long time. Last season, the forward-center averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks despite playing as a reserve. Two years earlier, he averaged a career-best 21.0 points per game for Houston. This established Wood as a dependable offensive player after playing with several teams and bouncing back and forth from the G-League. The 27-year-old cager can play as a small-ball center while making it difficult for his guard to defend him due to his soft touch from the perimeter.
Wood, who began high school in Los Alamitos before leaving town to attend two prep schools ahead of his career at UNLV, is the fifth veteran acquired by the Lakers this summer following their impressive run to the Western Conference finals. Aside from Wood, the team also signed 7-footer Jaxson Hayes, forward Taurean Prince, point guard Gabe Vincent and swingman Cam Reddish while retaining free agents D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. The presence of Wood and Hayes is expected to help superstar Davis lessen his workload in the middle and possibly avoid injuries in the future while playing in the paint.
Trey Murphy III Undergoes Arthroscopic Knee Surgery, Out for 10-12 Weeks
New Orleans forward Trey Murphy III has underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his meniscus on his left knee. According to the Pelicans, the 23-year-old forward is expected to return to “basketball activities” in 10 to 12 weeks. The club said that Murphy had meniscectomy and received a biological injection to slow or stop inflammation around the injured joint. The 2021 first-round draft choice out of Virginia emerged as a frequent starter and reliable scorer for New Orleans last season, as he averaged 14.5 points. He added a three-point shot to his renowned finishing abilities above the rim. His high-leaping abilities handed him a slot in the All-Star Slam Dunk contest where he finished second behind Mac McClung of Philadelphia. He is expected to return in mid- to late-November. The Pelicans open the regular season on October 25 as they visit Memphis.
Dillon Brooks Shows Maturity for Team Canada in FIBA World Cup
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks has shown his maturity and leadership while playing for Canada in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. These qualities have helped the Canadian five win the bronze in the prestigious basketball tournament. He sizzled for a team-best 39 points and led the squad to a 127-118 victory over the United States in the bronze-medal clash on Sunday. Brooks’ big offensive play broke the single-game scoring record for a Canadian player at the World Cup, surpassing the 37 points scored by Carl Ridd in 1954. His efforts as the team’s defensive lynchpin helped him win the FIBA Best Defensive Player of the tournament.
His defensive expertise was on spotlight in Canada’s quarterfinal win over Slovenia. He pushed star player Luka Doncic to the limit with his physical play. This has caused Doncic to snap and retaliate to Brooks’ style, and in the process got himself ejected in the fourth quarter. His offensive marksmanship was in full display against the United States as he made 7-of-8 three-pointers during the game and his efforts helped the Canadians outclass the US via overtime.
Brooks’ work on both sides of the court helped Canada clinch a spot at the Paris Olympics as one of the two highest-finishing teams from the Americas at the World Cup. This was the first time that they have qualified for the Games since 2000. He is again expected to be one of the cornerstones for the Canadian squad. The team will be one of the top favorites for the gold medal in various online sportsbooks going into the prestigious Olympic Games and Brooks will be the top stars that will help Canada achieve the goal.
