Abdelrahman
The Los Angeles Lakers have officially added Alex Len to their roster, enhancing their center position following Jaxson Hayes’ role as the team’s sole big man. This move occurred on Tuesday, bolstering the team’s frontcourt depth.
Len, who last played for the Sacramento Kings, was part of a three-way trade that sent him to the Washington Wizards just before last Thursday’s deadline. However, the Wizards released Len over the weekend. Standing at 7 feet tall and weighing 250 pounds, Len was initially set to sign with the Indiana Pacers but opted to join the Lakers instead. This decision presents him with the chance to serve as the main backup center, especially after the Lakers withdrew from a trade deal with the Charlotte Hornets involving Mark Williams on Saturday.
At 31 years old, Len has not been able to consistently log significant playing time, averaging just over 10 minutes per game since the 2021-22 season. To accommodate Len on their 15-man roster, the Lakers parted ways with Christian Wood, who has been sidelined this season due to recovery from left knee surgery performed in the offseason.
Wood, now 29, joined the Lakers during the 2023 offseason, but has been out of the game for nearly a year. Last season, he participated in 50 regular-season contests, averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. He faced a one-month injury hiatus that began in mid-February 2024, necessitating surgery on his left knee in March, with another procedure occurring last September.
Len, a seasoned NBA player with 12 years of experience, has recorded an average of 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds during 36 games this season, garnering an average of 7.2 minutes on the court. Previously, he was the primary reserve for Kings center Domantas Sabonis before his trade.
Throughout his career, which includes multiple tenures with teams like the Kings (2021-25, 2019-20), Wizards (2020-21), Toronto Raptors (2020-21), Atlanta Hawks (2018-20), and Phoenix Suns (2013-18), Len has averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds across 680 games.
With Len’s arrival, the Lakers gain an additional center option alongside Hayes, who has started in the last six victorious games for the team. During this stretch, Hayes has posted impressive statistics, averaging 8.7 points (at an 82.1% shooting rate), 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals in roughly 25 minutes per game.
Additionally, the Lakers have utilized small-ball lineups that feature players like Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron James, or Rui Hachimura stepping in at center whenever Hayes is off the floor. Currently, Christian Koloko is signed to a two-way contract with the Lakers, but his time in service for the season is nearing its limit.
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