After weeks of inactivity, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka finally added a new player to his roster: young center Christian Koloko. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers have officially agreed to sign him after being one of several teams to express interest.
“The Lakers and seven-foot center Christian Koloko have agreed on a deal, agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports says,” wrote Shams on X. “Koloko is expected to have an opportunity for a role in Lakers frontcourt after he receives clearance from league’s fitness panel.”
Koloko, 24, was initially drafted by the Raptors with the 33rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In 58 games that season, he averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game on 48% shooting. The 7’1″ center is an elite shot blocker and expert rim protector who has shown potential to be effective in the league for a long time.
Sadly, Koloko was waived by the Raptors last season due to a career-threatening blood clot issue that forced him on the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play panel. The young big man was prohibited from signing a contract until he was medically cleared to play, which finally happened this summer after receiving a clean bill of health.
On the Lakers’ side, Koloko may not be what fans envisioned for their big acquisition this summer but options were already limited given the contracts they currently have on the books. While he’s still young and unproven, his size and skillset as a rim-running center should provide a boost in the frontcourt and give the Lakers some defensive resistance on the inside.
Anthony Davis, who is next in line to become the face of the franchise, will be leading the show on both ends for his team and it’s no secret that he wants to spend more time playing with other bigs this season. Besides Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers don’t have a lot of options at center but Koloko gives them the chance to add some youth and athleticism next to Davis.
Even after finishing 7th in the West last season, and losing in the first round, the Lakers have ambitions to win the title in 2025 and they believe that LeBron James can take them there. But against teams like the Nuggets, Thunder, and Timberwolves, the Lakers are undeniably outmatched and their only hope for keeping up is if one of their own players has some kind of breakout season.
Whether it’s Koloko, Austin Reaves, or even Bronny James, the Lakers will need an extra kick if they want to be competitive this season and even then they are facing overwhelming odds. Only time will tell how it all plays out for the iconic franchise but we know that there is always pressure for them to succeed.
As the clock ticks down on LeBron James’ career, the Lakers are only getting more and more desperate to win one more championship and give him the kind of ending that he deserves. Even at 39, the expectations for him are unmatched but he won’t have to battle alone next season with Anthony Davis and new head coach JJ Redick ready to back him up and maximize the team’s potential.
