LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers needed a quick fix following the aftermath of their trade deal for Mark Williams getting nixed due to a failed physical by team doctors. Leaving L.A. with an incomplete roster and, more importantly, a thin frontcourt.
To address this, the Lakers announced the signing of seven-foot center Alex Len on Tuesday afternoon after he cleared waivers, bolstering their center position.
Len, 31, immediately fills a position of need for the Lakers in their championship aspirations as a bigbody rebounding center and an option against bigger teams in the West (DEN, DAL) in hopes of a deep playoff run.
To make room for Len with the team at a full 15-man roster, L.A. waived forward Christian Wood, who hadn't played a single minute this season for the Lakers due to injury.
Len had been with the Sacramento Kings for four seasons before being traded to the Wizards at the trade deadline in a three-team deal and subsequently waived.
The Ukrainian native played a limited role in Sacramento, playing just 7.2 minutes per game in 36 games (three starts).
This move doesn't immediately move recent starting center Jaxson Hayes to a role off the bench, with a successful showing and fit in Luka Dončić's debut being a lob threat. Hayes scored 12 points, all except one being lob dunks, on six-for-six from the floor in 23 minutes.