Max Christie expected to sign a four-year deal with Lakers

Restricted free agent Max Christie plans to sign the Lakers’ four-year contract offer, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. The deal is worth approximately $32M and will include a player option, most likely in the final year.

It’s a strong commitment by the Lakers to Christie, an early second-round selection in 2022. Christie appeared in 41 games as a rookie, then spent much of last season in the rotation. He posted averages of 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 67 regular-season games, including seven starts. Christie has made 37.8% of his three-pointers, a total of 180 attempts in all, during his two seasons.

Christie made the jump to the NBA after a one-and-done season at Michigan State. Still just 21 years old, Christie offers good size (6-foot-5) at the shooting guard spot and could see his role expand under new head coach JJ Redick, though he’ll have plenty of competition — including first-round pick Dalton Knecht — for minutes behind Austin Reaves.

The Lakers extended a $2.3M qualifying offer this weekend to Christie to make him an RFA. His younger brother Cam Christie was drafted in the second round by the Clippers on Thursday.

Christie’s contract will put the Lakers approximately $39M below the $178.1M first tax apron, but the doesn’t include LeBron James and Bronny James, cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes.