NBA Rumors: Ex-Milwaukee Bucks Big Man Still on Lakers’ Radar

NBA rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers have already made some big moves in the offseason. As it turns out, however, they’re still not done. LA appears to still be in the market for a backup center ahead of the new season, and they reportedly have their eye on former Milwaukee Bucks big man Christian Wood.

This is far from the first time that Wood has been linked to the Lakers. After the Dallas Mavericks opted against offering the 6-foot-10 big man a new deal, Wood emerged as one of the biggest names in free agency. LA was one of the teams that emerged as a potential landing spot for the 27-year-old, and while there has been no movement on that end as of yet, NBA insider Marc Stein reports that a move to Hollywood for Wood is not yet dead:

“The Los Angeles Lakers ‘have maintained a level of interest in signing free agent big man Christian Wood,’ according to NBA reporter Marc Stein, though they are only capable of offering him a league minimum contract (h/t Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report). “

The big caveat here is that given LA’s salary cap restrictions, the best deal they can offer Wood is a veteran’s minimum deal. This is also probably why Wood has not signed a new deal from any other team (assuming that there is an offer out there), given that he’s still likely holding out hope that he can secure a bigger payday from another squad. Last season, Wood pocketed $14.3 million from the Mavs.

Wood played just 13 games for the Bucks during the 2018-19 season before the team decided to waive his services. Could a reunion be in the books for the former UNLV standout?

Initially, we thought that the Bucks had no chance of signing Wood given how they too have some massive contracts on their payroll. However, now that a minimum contract is up for discussion, the Bucks could potentially make a move for Wood. That is, of course, under the assumption that they can see a role for him on the squad. It wouldn’t hurt for Milwaukee to add another frontcourt player to their rotation (although they will need to clear up a spot for him, if ever), and they could do much worse than Christian Wood.

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There have been many great players that have come through the Milwaukee Bucks organization. Of course, the latest of these is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who may have a case for being the greatest player ever when his career is all said and done.

Of course, the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started his career in Milwaukee, and Oscar Robertson finished his storied career in a Bucks uniform. But it is one player whose years in Milwaukee are often overshadowed by the success he enjoyed later in his career, Ray Allen, who is garnering praise recently.

Already considered one of the NBA’s greatest 75 players, Ray Allen was a 10-time All-Star, two-time NBA Champion (Celtics and Heat) and a two-time All-NBA selection. A Hall of Famer, Allen was the NBA leader in three-point shots made before Steph Curry broke his record in 2021.

Recently, Curry was interviewed on The Today Show by Willie Geist. He was asked, “Taking yourself out of the equation, who is the greatest shooter in NBA history?”

“Not me,” Curry replied.

“It is you, but I’m letting you take yourself out of it,” Geist replied.

Curry laughed, “No, I understand that. Um, I would say Ray Allen. I think his form, his dedication to his craft, he hit big shots in his career.”

This was the same interview in which Curry named Jrue Holiday as one of the toughest defenders he has ever faced (Tony Allen and Ron Artest were the others).

Allen spent the first six-and-a-half years of his career with the Bucks, making three All-Star teams and was a part of the 2001-team that came within a game of the NBA Championship. They ended up losing Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Philadelphia 76ers led by Allen Iverson.

The 76ers, of course, went on to lose the Finals 4-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers, whom Milwaukee was 2-0 against that season.

Allen was traded in what is often considered one of the worst trades in franchise history to the Seattle Supersonics for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason. While with Seattle, Allen budded into a perennial All-Star. From 2003-2008, he was an All-Star every year: each of his full seasons with the Sonics and his first two years with the Boston Celtics.

Allen then helped form one of the NBA’s first super teams when he signed with Boston along with fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. He spent five seasons with the Celtics before finishing his career with two seasons with the Miami Heat.