The Lakers should accept a bilateral agreement with the center Christian Kolokostrengthening their forward line following Christian Wood‘s last knee operationaccording to several people familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly.
Koloko, 24, was the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA draft but missed all of last season due to blood clot issues. He still needs to be cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play committee, a group of doctors who will determine whether Koloko can return to on-court participation.
The Lakers have a full roster with 15 players. They are expected to release one of the three players they have on two-way contracts to make room for Koloko.
When he was on the field as a rookie with the Toronto RaptorsKoloko has shown immense defensive potential. A 7-foot-4 center with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he averaged one blocked shot in 13.8 minutes per game. The Raptors released him in January to open up a roster spot after completing a trade with Indiana.
Players who have not been cleared by the NBA’s medical committee, according to people familiar with the matter, are eligible to sign with teams. However, those signings must be reviewed by the NBA.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
