Lakers Secure Center Alex Len Following Disappointment in Mark Williams Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed a new center, Alex Len. The team announced the deal on Tuesday after Len changed his mind about joining the Indiana Pacers.

This move comes after the Lakers traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić, which left them needing more strength in the center position. With Jaxson Hayes as the only other center on the team, Len’s addition is a big boost. To make space for him, the Lakers will be waiving Christian Wood.

Previously, the Lakers had tried to acquire Mark Williams before the trade deadline. They offered rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and two draft picks, but the trade fell through when Williams did not pass the team’s physical. He has struggled with injuries throughout his three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, missing nearly 60% of games. This season alone, he’s played just 23 games while dealing with a foot injury. The Hornets are currently disputing the failed physical.

Len brings experience, having averaged 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in about seven minutes of play per game this season with the Sacramento Kings. He was briefly traded to the Washington Wizards but was waived, allowing him to join the Lakers.

While Williams could have been a more dynamic option, Len provides the size the Lakers need to avoid relying solely on small-ball strategies. In Dončić’s debut, the Lakers dominated the Utah Jazz, marking their sixth consecutive win and improving their record to 32-19. They are set to face the Jazz again soon, just before the All-Star break.