The very intriguing late-offseason acquisition the Lakers made has not yet been made official. While he was not a high-profile target or even a potential role player, the signing of Christian Koloko has been approved by insiders as a low-risk, high-reward signing. After a blood clot sidelined him for the entirety of last season, the center appears ready to return to the court. What’s going on? Although his doctors have cleared him to return to the court, the NBA has not officially cleared him.
In an interview with TMZ, Koloko spoke about the process of his return to competition. He revealed that the Lakers did their own medical evaluation before signing him, but the NBA has yet to comment on the matter: “Right now, I’m just waiting for the NBA to give me the all-clear. The Lakers have done their part, as have my doctors. We’re pretty optimistic that everything will be fine.” So it seems to be just a matter of time. It can be seen as a formality with the league having to make sure it’s clear of any lawsuits and issues.