After his forgettable brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, veteran center Alex Len received what could be his last lifeline in the NBA with the New York Knicks.
The 32-year-old Ukrainian big man signed an Exhibit 9 contract, a one-year, non-guaranteed deal primarily for training camp, giving him a final opportunity to make a roster and extend his career.
Len’s tenure in Los Angeles was brief and largely unremarkable. He averaged just 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds over 46 combined games between the Sacramento Kings and the Lakers.
Len represented a desperate move for the Lakers late last season — after they traded Anthony Davis in the Luka Dončić deal — that backfired. While Len’s presence offered size and experience — a familiar type of role the Lakers have often relied on when trying to supplement a rotation led by former top picks — it ended ugly in a first-round loss to a lower-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves team that featured a towering frontline.
Former Lottery Pick Fighting for Relevance
Getty Alex Len, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, looks up before an NBA game.
Drafted fifth overall in 2013 by the Phoenix Suns, Len was once projected as a franchise cornerstone. Over 12 NBA seasons, he has played for six teams — Suns, Hawks, Kings, Raptors, Wizards, and Lakers — compiling career averages of 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 690 games.
But Len’s career has increasingly resembled that of a journeyman big man. In recent years, he has been relegated to third-string center roles, fighting to maintain relevance in a league that favors athleticism, versatility, and high-impact performance. His brief Lakers stint reflected that reality, as the team navigated a frontcourt rebuild following trades and acquisitions.
Knicks Offer One More Opportunity
Len’s next stop with the New York Knicks gives him a shot at redemption. Signed to an Exhibit 9 deal, he will compete for one of the team’s limited roster spots during training camp. The Knicks’ frontcourt is already anchored by Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, Ariel Hukporti and Guerschon Yabusele, making the competition for minutes steep.
In a twist of irony, Len’s Knicks opportunity may overlap with Trey Jemison III, the younger center who split last season between the Lakers and their G League affiliate. Los Angeles chose Len over Jemison for its playoff roster — but it’s Jemison, not Len, who secured a two-way deal with New York after impressing in workouts.
Lakers’ Present Reclamation Project
Getty Deandre Ayton will benefit from playing alongside Luka Doncic in the Los Angeles Lakers.
Len’s Lakers stint also highlights the team’s current approach to its frontcourt issues. Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick, has been paired with Dončić as the team’s primary lob threat and interior presence. Like Len, Ayton is a reclamation project — a high draft pick in Phoenix whose career trajectory is being recalibrated in Los Angeles while adjusting to a supporting role behind Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
The Lakers’ reliance on veteran centers and reclamation projects in the rotation — from Dwight Howard’s short-term stints to Javale McGee and then Len — underscores the team’s strategy of blending experience with upside while trying to win. The Lakers thought Len fit that mold, offering size, but he did not make a lasting impact on the court.
One Last NBA Shot
For Len, the Knicks deal may be his final opportunity to remain in the league. Exhibit 9 contracts provide minimal guarantees, and New York’s roster crunch leaves little room for error.
For Lakers fans, Len’s brief time in purple and gold serves as a reminder of the franchise’s history of taking chances on veteran big men. Whether he can capitalize on the Knicks‘ opportunity will determine if his NBA journey continues or if his tenure in Los Angeles becomes his last stop — a fleeting chance at redemption for a former lottery pick.
Former Lottery Pick Seeks Redemption After Forgettable Lakers Stint