The Los Angeles Lakers are emerging as the leading contenders to sign free agent big man Christian Koloko, according to recent reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic. Koloko, who is still finalizing his decision on where he’ll sign next, is also drawing interest from several other teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, the San Antonio Spurs, and his previous team, the Toronto Raptors.
Koloko’s comeback story is particularly compelling. The 24-year-old center missed the entire 2023/24 NBA season due to a serious blood clot issue. However, he has been making significant strides in his recovery. Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy reported earlier in July that Koloko had been given medical clearance to resume playing. His agent, Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports, recently shared that Koloko experienced a “major breakthrough” with his blood clot problem, which was successfully addressed through corrective surgery.
In July, Koloko showcased his readiness for a return by participating in a workout during the Las Vegas Summer League. He has been involved in full-contact, five-on-five drills throughout the offseason, aiming to reach full health. Chris Johnson, a trainer known for working with various NBA players, even posted a video in August showing Koloko in a scrimmage with notable NBA players such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Johnson, Jordan Clarkson, and Delon Wright.
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While Christian Koloko is still waiting for formal clearance from the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play panel, it appears he is moving in the right direction. Charania reports that, technically, Koloko is eligible to sign with an NBA team before receiving this final clearance.
Koloko was selected as the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In his rookie season with the Raptors, he played in 58 games, averaging 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game in about 13.8 minutes. During his final college season at Arizona, Koloko was recognized as the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player for the 2021/22 season.
For the Lakers, who will be missing center Christian Wood this fall due to recent knee surgery expected to sideline him for at least eight weeks, adding Koloko could provide much-needed depth in their frontcourt. However, the Lakers currently have 15 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts and are operating just below the second tax apron. This situation creates some uncertainty about whether the Lakers would sign Koloko to a standard contract or perhaps a two-way deal. If they opt for a two-way contract, they would need to waive one of Armel Traore, Blake Hinson, or Colin Castleton, who are currently occupying the team’s two-way slots.
Similarly, the Clippers and Spurs each have 15 players under guaranteed standard contracts, while the Raptors have 14 guaranteed deals plus Bruno Fernando on a non-guaranteed salary. Notably, the Clippers have an open two-way slot, while the Spurs and Raptors currently do not.
