Lakers' Christian Wood Out at Least 2 Weeks With Knee Injury

The Los Angeles Lakers are going to be without Christian Wood for the next several games.

The team announced Wednesday that the veteran center will be reevaluated by doctors in two weeks after suffering effusion in his left knee (swelling).

The Lakers are now down four players for Thursday's matchup with the Golden State Warriors, as Gabe Vincent (recovery from knee surgery), Jarred Vanderbilt (right midfoot sprain) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have also been ruled out.

Max Christie and Cam Reddish (both right ankle sprains) are also questionable, while Anthony Davis (bilateral Achilles tendinopathy and left hip spasm) is probable.

Wood, 28, has averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes across 50 games this season, serving primarily as AD's backup at center. He's made just one start, with head coach Darvin Ham preferring to keep him on the second unit when Davis misses time.

In those contests, Jaxson Hayes has been preferred as the starter.

That caused a mini-controversy in late January, when Hayes earned a start in Davis' absence ahead of a 138-122 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and Wood didn't appear to be happy with the decision, posting the following shortly after the lineup was announced:

He later clarified the intent of his social media post, however, though it's clear that he would prefer to see more playing time:

"We decided to keep him in his role where he's been for some time to give [Hayes] an opportunity to come out with the energy he played with last night," Ham told reporters after the game. "Give him a chance to come out and help us in that manner. We're constantly looking for balance with our lineup."

In Hayes, the Lakers have a solid enough backup option for Davis while Wood is out. But the team's general spate of injuries is becoming a concern, especially as the 30-26 Lakers attempt to claw back up the Western Conference standings.

Currently, the team is ninth in the West, leaving them in a Play-In Tournament position. Not exactly where this bunch expected to be, especially with LeBron James and Anthony Davis remaining largely healthy and putting together excellent seasons.