Latest news with #AlexLen
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers 2024-25 season player grades: Alex Len
Lakers 2024-25 season player grades: Alex Len The massive Luka Doncic trade on Feb. 1 created a massive hole at the center position for the Los Angeles Lakers, as it sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers were already thin at that spot outside of Davis, and after the deal was made, they badly needed help there. They agreed to send rookie Dalton Knecht, forward Cam Reddish, a 2031 first-round draft pick and a future first-round pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, a promising young center. But that trade was rescinded a few days later when Williams failed his physical. On Feb. 11, the Lakers signed veteran big man Alex Len from the buyout market in an attempt to plug their hole at the center position. Not a whole lot was expected from him, but they ended up getting even less from him. Alex Len's season stats In 10 games with the Lakers, Len averaged 2.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 blocks in 12.2 minutes a game. Overall, he had averages of 1.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.5 blocks in 8.3 minutes a game for the season. Overall analysis When the Lakers signed Len, there was some hope that he could at least be an innings-eater and be somewhat serviceable for about 15 minutes or so a game. In the past, the 31-year-old had been the type of player who could provide solid rebounding and defense for roughly 20 minutes a game while finishing strong near the rim. But his abilities had significantly diminished over the last few years. In his first game with Los Angeles, he played 22 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds while adding four points, two assists and one block. But from that point on, his playing time was sporadic, and there were many games during which he never got off the bench. Defensively, he just didn't cut it, and he wasn't the type of rim-runner or lob threat L.A. needed offensively. In the team's five-game loss in the NBA playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Len appeared in two games for a grand total of three minutes and 40 seconds. During that time, he grabbed four rebounds but made no other statistical contributions. Len's contract situation Since Len was only signed for the remainder of the season, he will become a free agent this summer. It is hard to imagine the Lakers bringing him back, especially given how rapidly he fell out of head coach JJ Redick's rotation. In fact, it could be argued he was never in that rotation to begin with. Overall season grade: D-minus
Japan Times
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Lakers sign Ukrainian 7-footer Len to join Doncic and LeBron
Los Angeles – Ukrainian center Alex Len has signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA club announced on Tuesday, after an earlier trade for Mark Williams fell through. Len, a 31-year-old seven-footer (213 cm) in his 12th NBA campaign, joined the Lakers, his sixth NBA club, only three days after being released by Washington. The Lakers had swung a deal with the Charlotte Hornets for U.S. center Williams at last week's NBA trade deadline, but he reportedly failed a physical and the trade was rescinded. That left the Lakers needing a big man to play alongside superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James after the departure of Anthony Davis in a deal with Dallas that sent Slovenian guard Doncic to Los Angeles. The answer came in Len, who reportedly was close to signing with the Indiana Pacers before the Lakers opportunity arrived. Len was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by Phoenix, where he spent five seasons before moving on to Atlanta, Sacramento, Toronto and Washington before returning to Sacramento for 3.5 seasons until going back to Washington as part of a three-team trade deal last week. Len has career averages of 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over 680 NBA appearances and has started only five games in the past three seasons. He averaged 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds a game for Sacramento this season. The Lakers, who released injured forward Christian Wood to make room for Len, are 32-19 and fourth in the Western Conference with a six-game win streak.
Reuters
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Lakers sign C Alex Len, release Christian Wood
February 12 - The Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent Alex Len on Tuesday to fill a roster spot at center. In a corresponding move, the Lakers waived forward/center Christian Wood. Los Angeles attempted to acquire a center at the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but later rescinded a trade for the Charlotte Hornets' Mark Williams after he failed a physical. The Lakers had dealt All-Star center Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a package for All-Star guard Luka Doncic ahead of the trade deadline. Len, 31, played this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 7.2 minutes in 36 games (three starts). He was part of a three-team trade at the league's deadline that sent him to the Washington Wizards from the Kings, with the Grizzlies moving Marcus Smart to Washington and the Wizards sending Marvin Bagley and Johnny Davis to Memphis. The Wizards later waived Len. Len has career averages of 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 17.1 minutes in 680 games (240 starts) for the Phoenix Suns (2013-18), Atlanta Hawks (2018-20), Kings (2020, 2021-25), Toronto Raptors (2020-21) and Wizards (2021). The Suns selected Len with the fifth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft. Wood, 29, has not played this season after offseason knee surgery. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 17.4 minutes in 50 games (one start) last season. He has career averages of 13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 23.2 minutes in 339 games (140 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers (2015-16), Charlotte Hornets (2016-17), Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19), New Orleans Pelicans (2019), Detroit Pistons (2019-20), Houston Rockets (2020-22), Dallas Mavericks (2022-23) and Lakers (2023-24).
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers sign veteran center Alex Len to bolster frontcourt
The Lakers are signing free-agent 7-foot center Alex Len for the remainder of the season, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. The team is waiving veteran big man Christian Wood, who has not played since last February while dealing with a left knee injury. Len, 31, played 36 games this season for Sacramento before being sent to Washington at the trade deadline. He was waived following the three-team trade and intended to sign with the Pacers, but when the Lakers' trade for Mark Williams got rescinded, Len saw an opportunity for playing time with a contender behind new starter Jaxson Hayes. In limited playing time this season, the 7-foot, 250-pound Len is averaging 1.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks. A former lottery pick by the Phoenix Suns, Len has spent the majority of his 680-game NBA career as a backup. He's averaged 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He provides some size and insurance for the Lakers behind Hayes, the only other true center on the Lakers' roster. The team has also deployed small-ball lineups and has Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III on two-way contracts, though two-way players aren't eligible for postseason play. Read more: Plaschke: The Los Angeles Lukas! Newly acquired Doncic dazzles in his Lakers debut Wood, who the Lakers signed two summers ago with the hope of giving the team a true stretch big who can score, hasn't played since the All-Star break last year, when he underwent knee surgery. He's currently rehabbing from subsequent knee procedures. The Lakers play Wednesday in Utah against the Jazz before the All-Star break. Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Lakers signing veteran center Alex Len to bolster frontcourt
The Lakers are signing free-agent 7-foot center Alex Len for the remainder of the season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. The team is waiving veteran big man Christian Wood, who has not played since last February while dealing with a left knee injury. Len, 31, played 36 games this season for Sacramento before being sent to Washington at the trade deadline. He was waived following the three-team trade and intended to sign with the Pacers, but when the Lakers' trade for Mark Williams got rescinded, Len saw an opportunity for playing time with a contender behind new starter Jaxson Hayes. In limited playing time this season, the 7-foot, 250-pound Len is averaging 1.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks. A former lottery pick by the Phoenix Suns, Len has spent the majority of his 680-game NBA career as a backup. He's averaged 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. He provides some size and insurance for the Lakers behind Hayes, the only other true center on the Lakers' roster. The team has also deployed small-ball lineups and has Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison III on two-way contracts, though two-way players aren't eligible for postseason play. Wood, who the Lakers signed two summers ago with the hope of giving the team a true stretch big who can score, hasn't played since the All-Star break last year, when he underwent knee surgery. He's currently rehabbing from subsequent knee procedures. The Lakers play Wednesday in Utah against the Jazz before the All-Star break.
