Christian Koloko still hasn’t received the green light.
The Lakers continue to wait for him to be medically cleared after signing the former Toronto Raptors big man to a two-way contract before training camp.
Koloko has received clearance from his own doctors and the Lakers doctors, however he has yet to be granted permission to return to NBA action by the league’s Fitness-to-Play panel of doctors, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported:
“He was expected to play a potential reserve role on this roster…Lakers doctors have felt confident that he will be cleared by the league’s Fitness-To-Play panel due to his blood clot issue, but that is still an on-going process. The Lakers are still waiting for answers from the league, from the PA (Players Association) on his clearance. That is going to be a major factor to keep an eye on because this was a guy in Koloko who was going to play a potential role down the stretch of this Lakers season.”
Once Koloko is cleared he will join the Lakers and the expectation is that he will be part of the team’s center rotation this season.
As they wait for the 7-foot-1 center, the Lakers will reportedly be searching for another big man to add alongside Anthony Davis, per Charania. Therefore, expect the Lakers to be busy leading up to the trade deadline.
The Raptors waived Koloko in January after the team traded Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. Toronto drafted him 33rd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. In 58 games with Toronto, Koloko averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 block in 13.8 minutes.
Former Raptors big man Christian Koloko signs with Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Christian Koloko on Sept. 16.
Shams Charania reported that the Lakers were the frontrunners to acquire Koloko, along with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.
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