The Fate of Lakers Center Christian Wood: Injury, Trade, and Updates

What Happened to Lakers Center Christian Wood? The Trade, Injury, and More. Christian Wood, the Lakers center, faced a difficult time after suffering a severe knee injury that caused him to miss the 2023-2024 season. He had been through a series of setbacks, and this injury seemed to add to his growing list of challenges. Despite his injury, Wood promised he would make a comeback.

However, Wood never returned to the court that season, and it appears the Lakers grew impatient. On February 12, 2025, the Lakers made the decision to waive him, making room for new talent. This news was especially painful as it came just hours after Wood had been gaining excitement for the future of his career and his team’s prospects.

Here’s what we know about Christian Wood’s journey: his injury, trade, and what’s next.

Christian Wood’s Journey: A Difficult Road Ahead

Wood’s injury in the 2023-2024 season caused several delays in his return to the game. Unfortunately, this was only the start of a challenging chapter for the talented center, who had struggled to stay healthy amid a promising career.

Or rather, we should say, what was a promising career with the Lakers.

On February 12, 2025, Sports Illustrated reported that the Lakers confirmed they would release Wood, making space for free-agent center Alex Len. This move came as a tough setback for Wood, who was already dealing with health issues, but the Lakers chose to prioritize their team’s future. Keeping a sidelined player with ongoing knee issues was no longer feasible for the organization.

The Injury that Led to Christian Wood’s Exit

Let’s revisit Wood’s injury, as it likely played a crucial part in the Lakers’ decision not to retain him.

Wood had joined the Lakers in 2023, but his 2023-2024 season was limited to just 50 games before his knee injury forced him out for the next season. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Wood underwent an arthroscopic surgery in March 2024 to address the injury.

In an effort to stay with the Lakers, he exercised his $3 million player option to play for the 2024-2025 season. Unfortunately, after another surgery in September 2024, his recovery took longer than expected, delaying his return further.

Though the Lakers had hoped to keep him as their center, Wood never took the court during the 2023-2024 season, which made him a costly player on the sidelines. In October 2024, he had expressed optimism, mentioning that his rehab was progressing well and that he hoped to return soon.