A Disappointing Start: How Max Christie Became a Liability for the Lakers

Max Christie’s 2023-24 season has been nothing short of a disaster. Barely a month into the regular season, the Lakers made a significant adjustment to their rotation, effectively benching Christie in favor of Cam Reddish. The shift speaks volumes about Christie’s struggles and the growing frustration with his lack of production.

Reddish, who entered the season as a fringe player on a veteran minimum contract, has seized the opportunity and emerged as a valuable contributor. In two recent games, Reddish not only started but logged over 30 minutes per contest. Against the Raptors, he posted 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on 5-for-7 shooting in a 20-point Lakers victory. Meanwhile, Christie played a mere 1 minute and 40 seconds during garbage time, scoring 3 points. In the following game against the Sixers, Reddish played 28 minutes and contributed 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in a solid team win. Christie, on the other hand, saw just 1 minute and 28 seconds of garbage time, finishing with 2 points on 1-for-3 shooting.

It’s an alarming fall from grace for Christie, who signed a four-year, $32 million deal in the offseason—a contract that now looks like a significant overpay.

Christie’s Dismal Numbers

The numbers don’t lie: Christie has been a net negative for the Lakers. In 10 games this season, he is averaging just 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 13.1 minutes per game. His shooting splits—33.3% from the field, 29.4% from three, and a true shooting percentage of 49.6%—are far below league averages.

But it’s not just the raw stats that are concerning. When Christie is on the floor, the Lakers’ offensive efficiency plummets to 100.0, while their defensive efficiency soars to 125.4. The result is a shocking -25.4 net rating per 100 possessions. Contrast this with the team’s performance when Christie is off the court: a robust 122.2 offensive efficiency and a respectable 112.6 defensive efficiency, leading to a +9.6 net rating.

In terms of cumulative plus-minus, Christie’s -80 is the worst on the Lakers by a wide margin. The next lowest is Gabe Vincent at -20, making Christie’s impact—or lack thereof—stand out as a glaring issue.

A Questionable Contract

Critics have been quick to point out that Christie’s $32 million deal, which includes a player option, might be one of the worst contracts in the league. At just 21 years old, Christie’s potential was clearly a factor in the Lakers’ decision to offer him such a deal. However, his production to date suggests that even a $5 million annual salary would be an overpay.

The comparison to other contracts signed this offseason is particularly damning. Buddy Hield, for instance, signed a four-year, $37 million deal with the Warriors, with only $3 million guaranteed in the third year and a team option for the fourth. Hield is currently averaging 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and an eye-popping 48.8% from three. His true shooting percentage of 67.1% is miles ahead of Christie’s.

Defensive Struggles

Christie was supposed to provide value as a defensive specialist, but even that aspect of his game has regressed. While he plays with energy and effort, his lack of experience and physicality has been exposed. This season, opponents have seen their shooting percentages increase by 2.7% from the field and 2.8% from three when Christie is the primary defender.

In a league where defense is critical, Christie’s inability to hold his own has further diminished his value. The Lakers, already struggling with depth, cannot afford to carry a player who contributes so little on either end of the floor.

The Cam Reddish Factor

Reddish’s emergence has only highlighted Christie’s shortcomings. Signed to a minimum contract, Reddish was initially seen as a low-risk gamble. However, he has quickly earned the trust of head coach Darvin Ham, providing solid defense and timely scoring.

The contrast between Reddish and Christie is stark: while Reddish’s production doesn’t leap off the page, his contributions are consistent and reliable. In the Lakers’ recent games, Reddish has logged heavy minutes and even started, a clear indication that Ham values his presence over Christie’s.

The Lakers Front Office and Coaching Rift

Interestingly, reports have surfaced suggesting that the Lakers’ front office has been unhappy with Ham’s usage—or lack thereof—of Christie. This raises questions about the management’s evaluation process and whether their infatuation with Christie’s potential blinded them to his actual performance.

It’s worth noting that the Lakers’ decision to allocate significant resources to Christie came at the expense of other moves, including salary cap considerations that affected LeBron James’ and Anthony Davis’ supporting cast.

Can Christie Turn It Around?

At just 21 years old, Christie still has time to develop. His supporters argue that he’s simply going through a rough patch and that his work ethic and potential could lead to improvement. However, based on his first two seasons and the start of this one, it’s difficult to envision a sudden leap forward.

For now, Christie’s minutes are likely to remain limited to garbage time. Unless he can drastically improve his shooting, defense, and overall impact, his role will continue to diminish, and his contract will remain a glaring mistake on the Lakers’ books.

The Lakers are still contenders with their championship window open, but every misstep in roster construction chips away at their chances. Christie’s performance has become a cautionary tale of overpaying for potential, and the Lakers can only hope that he eventually lives up to even a fraction of his $32 million deal.