The Lakers are the frontrunners to signal free agent huge man Christian Koloko, reviews Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter hyperlinks). In response to Charania, Koloko can also be drawing curiosity from the Clippers, the Spurs, and his former group, the Raptors.
Koloko, who remains to be finalizing his choice on the place he’ll signal, is on the comeback path after lacking all the 2023/24 season on account of a blood clot situation.
Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy reported in July that the seven-footer had obtained medical clearance to renew taking part in, whereas agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports activities stated final month that his consumer had a “main breakthrough” together with his blood clot situation, which was addressed by way of corrective surgical procedure.
Koloko held a exercise for potential suitors throughout the Las Vegas Summer season League in July and has been in a position to take part in five-on-five, full-contact drills this offseason as he makes an attempt to get again to 100% well being. Chris Johnson, a coach who has labored with quite a lot of NBA gamers, posted a YouTube video in August of Koloko participating in a scrimmage alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Johnson, Jordan Clarkson, Delon Wright, and several other different lively NBAers.
Though Koloko remains to be awaiting formal clearance from the NBA’s Health-to-Play panel, it seems like he continues to development in the appropriate path. And in accordance with Charania, the 24-year-old is technically eligible to signal with a group earlier than being cleared by that panel.
The thirty third total decide within the 2022 draft, Koloko appeared in 58 video games for the Raptors as a rookie, averaging 3.1 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 13.8 minutes per sport throughout 58 appearances (19 begins). He was the Pac 12’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months and Most Improved Participant in his last school season at Arizona in 2021/22
The Lakers shall be with out middle Christian Wooden this fall after the large man underwent knee surgical procedure this week that’s anticipated to sideline him for not less than eight weeks, so they may use extra depth of their frontcourt. Nevertheless, Los Angeles is at the moment carrying 15 gamers on totally assured customary contracts and is narrowly working under the second tax apron.
It’s unclear if the Lakers’ plan could be to signal Koloko to a typical deal or maybe to convey him on a two-way contract. Inking him to a two-way pact would require waiving one in every of Armel Traore, Blake Hinson, or Colin Castleton, who at the moment occupy L.A.’s two-way slots.
The Clippers and Spurs even have 15 gamers on assured customary contracts, whereas the Raptors have 14 gamers on assured offers, plus Bruno Fernando on a non-guaranteed wage. The Clippers have a two-way slot open; San Antonio and Toronto don’t, for now.
