Christian Koloko signs contract with the Lakers amid reported interest from the Clippers, Spurs, and Raptors.
Former Toronto Raptors center Christian Koloko has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania shared the update on Saturday, following his report on Friday that Koloko was close to an NBA return, with the Lakers emerging as “frontrunners” despite interest from the Clippers, Raptors, and Spurs.
The 24-year-old was waived by Toronto on January 17 as part of the trade that sent All-Star forward Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. The next day, Charania reported that Koloko was facing a career-threatening blood clot condition.
Koloko did not play for the Raptors before the trade, as he was sidelined indefinitely in October 2023 due to “respiratory issues.”
He cannot join a team for games or practices until he receives clearance from the NBA’s fitness panel. While Koloko is still awaiting this clearance, he is eligible to sign with a team in advance of the 2024-25 season.
Drafted 33rd overall by the Raptors in 2022, Koloko played in 58 games as a rookie, posting averages of 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game. He made a notable impact on both ends of the floor, finishing with the highest net rating of any Raptors player who appeared in at least 30 games (according to NBA.com).
Koloko aims to add depth to a Lakers frontcourt already featuring strong defenders like Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt.
