As training camp for the 2024-25 season approaches, the The Los Angeles Lakers The Red Devils are preparing to bounce back from a disappointing 2023-24 season. They made virtually no additions in the offseason, and while many predict a bleak future for them, some feel they are being underrated or left out.
Christian Wood is a player who can single-handedly add a few more wins to the Lakers’ total next season. He joined the team last summer after three productive seasons with the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, but his offensive production has dropped off.
He chose to stay in Los Angeles for his player option year and vowed to come back with a vengeanceBy achieving these three goals, he could have a positive impact on the team this time around.
1. Rediscover 3-point touch
Before joining the Lakers, Wood averaged 18.1 points per game on 50.9 percent shooting and 38.1 percent from three-point range over his previous three seasons. But he dropped to 6.9 points on 46.6 percent shooting and 30.7 percent from three-point range last season.
Although his two-point accuracy remained virtually unchanged from previous seasons, he was simply unable to score from the center. Perhaps that is why his playing time fluctuated throughout the season.
While the Lakers were eighth in three-point accuracy, they were just 28th in three-point attempts. Under new head coach JJ Redick, who was a great three-point shooter as a player, they will likely increase their volume of three-point shots. But it would be a waste of time unless they hit at a reasonable rate, and that’s where Wood can play a key role in exceeding expectations and taking the next step.
2. Run the field in transition
As mentioned earlier, Wood’s two-point shooting percentage didn’t suffer last season, but his volume of two-point attempts did. He went from 10.2 two-point attempts per 36 minutes over his previous three seasons to just 6.2 such attempts per 36 minutes in the 2023-24 campaign.
If LA has been successful during the LeBron James era, it’s because they’ve played fast and constantly looked for opportunities to break and attack early. If Wood wants more shot attempts, the best way for him to do that is to sprint down the court every time the team gets the ball, even after scoring.
He shot 81.2 percent of his attempts from within three feet last season and has scored on a lot of dunks in previous seasons, so he’s clearly capable of finishing strong at the basket. It’s an ability he needs to maximize.
3. Embrace the less glamorous sides of basketball
Wood has a reputation as a self-centered player who has an inflated view of his abilities. But with the Lakers, he’s had the opportunity to shed that reputation and contribute in multiple ways to a good team.
He’s a good rebounder and, at 6’3″ and with a 6’3″ wingspan, he has a 6’3″ wingspan, meaning he should have the ability to be at least a decent defender if he wants to be.
Wood also needs to master certain aspects of basketball, such as setting screens and boxing out, to help his teammates get rebounds. By focusing on those aspects, he should be able to get more playing time on a regular basis.
This article was originally published on LeBron Wire: Lakers player goals for 2024-25 season: Christian Wood
