Frontcourt Reinforcement! Lakers Sign Seven-Foot Center Christian Koloko, Who Missed the Entire Previous Season Due to Illness

September 15 news, it is understood that the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to sign free agent center Christian Koloko.

Earlier, well-known sports journalist Shams Charania disclosed on his social media account that Koloko’s agent, Calvin Andrews, confirmed the above news to him and indicated that Koloko will get some playing time in the new season, though he did not specify what type of contract was signed between the two parties.

Koloko missed the entire 2023-24 season due to a blood clot issue. However, media reports in July mentioned that the seven-foot-tall player had received medical clearance to return to play. Andrews also stated last month that Koloko’s blood clot issue had seen a “significant breakthrough” following surgery.

Currently, Koloko is still awaiting formal approval from the NBA’s “Fitness to Play Panel,” but the situation appears to be developing positively.

Reports suggest that the Clippers, Spurs, and his former team, the Raptors, were also interested in signing Koloko.

In the 2022 draft, Koloko was selected by the Raptors with the 33rd pick. As a rookie, he played 58 games for the Toronto team, averaging 13.8 minutes per game, contributing 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks (starting in 19 games). In his final year at the University of Arizona during the 2021-22 season, Koloko was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.

The Lakers’ center Christian Wood is set to miss games this fall due to knee surgery and is expected to require at least eight weeks of recovery time, thus the Lakers have a need for frontcourt depth. However, the Lakers currently have 15 players signed to fully guaranteed standard contracts and have not exceeded the second luxury tax line. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the Lakers plan to sign Koloko to a standard contract or possibly enter into a two-way contract with him. If they opt for a two-way contract, the Lakers would have to waive one of Amel Traore, Blake Hinson, or Collin Castro, who currently occupy the Lakers’ two-way contract slots.