Christian Wood addresses signing with Lakers

Christian Wood. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Wood explains Darvin Ham's recruiting strategy

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 9/22/23

Whatever rumors lingered around as to why newly signed Los Angeles Lakers big man Christian Wood remained on the free agent market for so long, it appears his new head coach isn’t quite buying into all of them.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham has been a straight-shooter with the media, his team and everyone in between since taking the job, and this made the recent comments from Wood all the more interesting.

While speaking with reporters, Wood was asked about his relationship with Ham and revealed a tidbit about his free agency and to some extent, his relationship with Ham.

"He called me every day in free agency, I could say that now. Believe it or not, we have a good relationship,” Wood said.

Wood proceeded to call Ham a “player’s coach” and praised the second-year head coach for believing and trusting in him.

"He called me everyday in free agency, I could say that now. Believe it or not, we have a good relationship."

Christian Wood on Darvin Ham pic.twitter.com/vV2yb0kghD
— pickuphoop (@pickuphoop) September 21, 2023

As for Wood, the late-free agency addition was a high-upside addition that doesn’t come with many risks due to signing a two-year deal worth $5.7M which has a player option for the second year.

Wood has impressed from a statistical standpoint over the past three seasons, averaging 16.6 points or more each year along with 9.6, 10.1 and 7.3 rebounds over that span.

If Wood is able to step into his new role and the trust of teammates such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis, it’s hard to imagine a world where he doesn’t see at least a decent number of minutes on a nightly basis with what he’s capable of providing offensively.

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