Title: Harry Giles III Joins Lakers: An Addition to Counter Wood’s Injury
Key Takeaways:
– The Los Angeles Lakers secured Harry Giles III on a two-way deal following Christian Wood’s injury.
– Christian Wood fulfilled a long-standing promise to his mother by gifting her a house before his injury.
– D’Angelo Russell expresses admiration and respect for LeBron James’ influence on his career.
Source: [Heavy](https://heavy.com/sports/los-angeles-lakers/harry-giles-signing/)
As the Los Angeles Lakers navigate their way through the season, they have found themselves in need of depth in the frontline due to the injury of Christian Wood. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reveals that the Lakers are utilising a two-way deal to bring in Harry Giles III in the wake of Wood’s undetermined recovery time.
The Gap Left by Injuries
With Woods enduring a left knee effusion, his absence since February 22 is keenly felt. The roster is further depleted by a right midfoot sprain suffered by Jarred Vanderbilt. Colin Castleton, another two-way player, is also on the injured list with a fractured right wrist. Consequently, this left the Lakers with a thin frontline featuring only Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes as their switch-off centers.
To address this void, the Lakers are onboarding 25-year-old Giles on Monday, as reported by ESPN. He is filling the two-way spot previously held by Dylan Windler, who was waived to make room for the new roster maneuver. However, Giles is only available for the regular season as two-way players are ineligible for playoff rosters.
Taking a Closer Look at Harry Giles III
Giles, standing tall at 6-foot-11, is not a new face in the basketball world. An ex-Duke standout, the Brooklyn Nets selected him as the 20th overall pick in 2017. Despite being waived last month by the Nets, his 3.4 points on 50% shooting and 1.6 rebounds in 5.1 minutes across 16 games this season show he could be a useful addition for the Lakers.
Christian Wood’s Life Off The Court
Before the onset of his injury, Wood achieved a personal milestone – fulfilling a decade-long promise to his mother, Jeanette Stewart. Thanks to the $500,000 cash reward he acquired from the Lakers’ In-Season Tournament, he gifted his mother a house. Despite being undrafted in 2015, it was his mother’s unwavering support that prevented him from abandoning his NBA dream.
Reflections from D’Angelo Russell
In other news, D’Angelo Russell shared his reverence for LeBron James’ profound influence on his career. He recalls how seeing James play in his first NBA game ignited his determination to join the league.
Based mainly on his experience watching James live, Russell admits the continued inspiration LeBron provides, not just for him but for the young aspiring players who see him as a role model. The admiration he holds for James is unwavering and expects that James will continue to shatter expectations.
In summary, the addition of Harry Giles III to the Lakers comes at a crucial time when they are battling the adverse effects of a few key injuries. As the season continues, the Lakers are hopeful that this new signing will help plug the gaps in their frontline. Meanwhile, the personal accomplishments of Christian Wood and D’Angelo Russell’s praise for LeBron James highlight the off-court stories that make the game more than just about points and rebounds.