Lakers claim Tarik Black, waive Xavier Henry

The Los Angeles Lakers have claimed recently-waived big man Tarik Black and released Xavier Henry to make space for him, the team announced. Black was waived by the Houston Rockets to create a roster slot for Josh Smith, who was released by the Detroit Pistons.

Black was playing a minimal role for Houston, averaging just 15.4 minutes. He was productive in his short time on the court, however, pulling down 5.1 rebounds per game while scoring 4.2 points. Black is a 23-year-old rookie who went undrafted out of Kansas. He'll likely play in a similar role behind the Lakers' frontcourt depth, providing extra depth in case of injury or a trade down the line.

This marks the end of Henry's time in Los Angeles, which concluded on a sour note after he suffered an Achilles tear expected to force him out for the season. Henry had a solid start to his career with the Lakers, but knee and hand injuries hampered the second half of his '13-14 season, and he barely had an opportunity to play this season.

So long, Xavier. Hello, Tarik.