So far this season, Christian Wood has averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds on 46.6% from the field for the Los Angeles Lakers.
He hasn’t been part of the team’s starting five but has been a reliable and dominant part of the team’s bench.
Sadly, the Lakers might be without Wood for the rest of the season.
According to Dave McMenamin, Wood is set to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
He is expected to miss a few more weeks and the Lakers will have to make plans to push into the postseason without him.
New ESPN story: Lakers F Christian Wood will undergo a procedure on his left knee that will sideline him at least several more weeks, sources told me and @wojespn. LAL will likely be without the backup big man as they make their push for the playoffs https://t.co/8ZMzhEp1vx
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 19, 2024
Wood has already been away from the team for more than a month.
He experienced swelling in his knee during the All-Star break and hasn’t played since February 14.
Wood hasn’t been with the Lakers for long, having joined the team during the summer on a one-year, veteran minimum contract.
He was envisioned as a key to strengthening the bench and a way to give Anthony Davis more time to rest on the sidelines.
Last season, Wood played for the Dallas Mavericks and spent time with the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and others before that and it’s not clear what is ahead for him or if the Lakers will give him another deal this summer.
Even though he was averaging just 17 minutes per game, the loss of Wood is troubling for the Lakers.
They need as much depth as possible, especially when it comes to the frontcourt.
The Lakers are clinging to the ninth spot in the West right now and they want as many wins as possible over the next few weeks.
Wood could have provided a lot of strength for the team but now they will have to continue without him.
NEXT: Anthony Davis Shares Details Of Scary Eye Injury