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By Ricardo Sandoval
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Lakers have bolstered their frontcourt after a week of crazy events for L.A.
The Lakers have finally added much-needed depth to their frontcourt, signing free agent center Alex Len.
ESPN's Shams Charania shared via X.
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Len, 31, will add much-needed depth to their center position.
In the process, the Lakers have waived veteran center Christian Wood to make room for Len. Wood has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason knee surgery.
The Lakers were in desperate need of a center after they rescinded the Mark Williams trade from the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
The deal between the Hornets and Lakers, which took place on Wednesday night, centered Williams from the Hornets. In return, L.A. was sending out guard Dalton Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, the 2031 first-round draft pick, and a pick-swap.
Instead, that fell through, and with Len no longer signing with the Indiana Pacers, L.A. jumped at the opportunity.
Len started the season with the Sacramento Kings and is expected to be with his fourth team this season.
Len was traded to the Wizards prior to the trade deadline on Thursday. The Wizards acquired guard Marcus Smart and a 2025 protected first-round pick from the Memphis Grizzlies, and guard Colby Jones and Len from the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team trade.
Len, who stands at 7-foot tall and weighs 250 pounds, was selected by the Phoenix Suns (5th overall) in the 2013 NBA Draft.
He spent five seasons with the Suns and has had stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, and one season in Washington (2020-21).
Len holds career averages of 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 680 career games across 12 seasons. He appeared in 36 games for Sacramento this season, averaging 1.4 points per game.
Len is also averaging 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.5 blocks on 53.7 percent from the field in 7.2 minutes of action in 36 games.
Len has been limited this season, but with the Lakers, his role will indeed increase.
The Lakers sit in a great spot as we approach the All-Star break; they are 13 games above .500 for the first time in a long time at 32-19, which is good for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
On top of that, L.A. has been the hottest team of late.
In their last 14 games, they are 12-2, ranked second in the league in net rating, third in defensive rating, second in true shooting percentage, first in opponent field goal percentage, and first in opponent rebounds.
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