The LA Lakers were desperately added to the roster later in the season. It didn’t work.
After landing Luka Donsic in a surprising move in early February, La Lakers tried to trade to pair him with the center.
Mark Williams’ move didn’t last long. The Lakers cancelled their move by citing the failed medical care and the deadline was over, so they ran out of options.
There was only one hopeless movement left. The Lakers have decided to sign free agent center Alex Ren.
Alex Wren began with King Sacramento in 2025 before being cut after being traded with the Washington Wizard.
After clearing the exemption, Wren has lined up moves to the Indiana Pacers, with ESPN reporting that he is set to agree to the deal.
The Lakers then moved to hijack the switch to Indiana. They cut out Christian wood from the roster and made Wren the offer.
In an interview in February, Ren explained how close he was, admitting he was shaken up by the opportunity to compete for the title with the Lakers.
He explained:
“I understand that being with the Lakers is a great opportunity, I just played for the championship and I couldn’t pass it on.
Alex Ren struggled quickly with the La Lakers, and by the time the NBA playoffs came, he couldn’t gain the trust of coach JJ Reddick or fanbase.
Many fans feel he shouldn’t have made a roster, and that Trey Jemison should have been called in his place.
Ren played four minutes in total as the Lakers were eliminated in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 4-1 series loss.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers, the team he turned down, ran an unlikely event in the NBA Finals.
The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks to hold the final against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Few people expected the Pacers to do this kind of run, but they were hoping for most, despite their numbers showing that they would become the 2025 first team in the East.
Alex Wren wouldn’t have been a starter for them, and he wouldn’t play for minutes, especially in the finals.
But it would have been a much happier experience for him in Indiana than in LA, and his decision could cost him the championship ring.