Lakers big man finished for regular season after opting for knee surgery

The Los Angeles Lakers are grappling with yet another setback as a key rotation player faces an extended absence.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Lakers’ big man Christian Wood has opted for an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, anticipating several more weeks on the sidelines. With the regular season concluding on Apr. 14, the Lakers face the prospect of navigating crucial games without Wood’s presence.

Wood, 28, has been sidelined since the All-Star break due to the injury. Prior to his absence, he contributed an average of 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in less than 18 minutes per game off the bench.

The Lakers, already struggling with depth behind Anthony Davis, have found it challenging to replace Wood’s contributions. While Jaxson Hayes has assumed the backup center role, he lacks Wood’s versatile offensive skill set. Additionally, the team has explored alternative lineup configurations, including utilizing Taurean Prince and Max Christie in smaller lineups.

Despite these adjustments, the Lakers find themselves in a precarious position, having dropped their last two games and slipping to tenth in the Western Conference standings. With Wood joining the list of long-term absentees, the Lakers face the urgency of finding solutions to secure their place in the postseason race.