The Lakers have secured the services of Max Christie for another four years by signing him to a $32-million contract. Christie, 21, had been on track to become a free agent but the Lakers reached an agreement just before the start of the season.
Heading into his third year after being drafted 35th in the 2022 NBA draft, Christie is hoping to make significant strides and become a player who can impact games on both ends of the court. Last season, he averaged 4.2 points while seeing inconsistent rotation minutes. However, during a 20-game stretch, he saw consistent playing time and made some progress as a player. Unfortunately, his playing time decreased once guard Spencer Dinwiddie signed in free agency and Gabe Vincent returned from injury.
Christie’s role on the team was a concern last season, and his name was often mentioned during the search for a new coach and after JJ Redick was hired. Despite having a full roster of 15 players, including LeBron James who is expected to re-sign after declining his option for the final year of his contract, the Lakers are still looking to be aggressive in reshaping their team through trades. They hope to clear some salary cap space so they can make significant signings in free agency thanks to James’ willingness to take a pay cut. Keep updated on all things Lakers by signing up for our weekly newsletter.
