The trade for Luka Doncic sent the LA Lakers in search of a center, after sending Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.

The team traded with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, a deal later rescinded due to fitness concerns.

This occurred after the trade deadline, leaving the Lakers without a traditional starting center. They began with Jaxson Hayes against the Utah Jazz on Doncic’s debut.

Now the Lakers have made a move to sign free agent Alex Len.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

LA Lakers sign Alex Len

The LA Lakers have signed Alex Len to the roster, after he was cut by the Sacramento Kings and cleared waivers.

Len had been set to sign with the Indiana Pacers, and has now made the decision as a free agent to sign with the Lakers.

The Phoenix Suns drafted Len in 2013 with the fifth overall pick, taking him ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who went 15th to the Bucks.

Len, 31, hails from Ukraine, and spent five years with the Suns before signing with the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent in 2018.

The 7ft center then spent time with the Kings, Raptors and Wizards, before a four-year stint back in Sacramento.

Len has played 680 career regular games plus 12 playoff match-ups. He played in 36 games for the Kings this season but only three as a starter, averaging 7.2 minutes per game in 2024-25.

LA Lakers waive Christian Wood

To make room for Alex Len on the roster, the LA Lakers have decided to waive Christian Wood, who has not yet played this season due to injury.

The Lakers signed Wood as a free agent in 2023, after he spent the 2022-23 season with the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 30 points against the Lakers on Christmas Day.

He underwent knee surgery in September, and with the Lakers requiring roster help at the center position right now, they have made the decision to cut Wood and offer Len a deal.