“One lucky game” Hes shooting 40% from 3 on the season and 45% in the last 35 games. You guys truly only see what you want to see. I get it, the Rockets are terrible and someone has to be blamed for it. You are not going to blame the rookies since they are supposed to be bad, so you blame the best player. No, Christian Wood is not elite, and if he’s your best player then you are on one of the worst teams in the league. But even actual elite bigs like AD and Kat couldn’t win sht and they were on more talented teams. Just because Wood alone cannot lead you to wins doesn’t change the fact that he is one of the only players on the team actually contributing to winning, there just isn’t enough others to actually win games.
Btw ofc I don’t agree with the thread title and wouldn’t build around Wood. But he would be fine as the third best player on a contending team. The Rockets are going to tank one more year next year as that’s the final year they have control over their pick, then they will be going all in in FA to try to win, there’s no guarantee that they will be able to sign someone better than Wood. I don’t mind trading Wood before that but it all depends on what we get in return. If it’s just some mid first rounder then I’d rather just extend him, and draft Ivey. Ivey + Wood is far better than any of the other top picks + mid first rounder.
It's hard to hear but yeah... I don't really understand why the Stone and Silas don't see what everyone else sees. It's okay to take a flyer on guys like this but boy... are they WAAYYY too invested in them or what? They are invested in them in a way that doesn't allow for them to be coached in the way they should be. They are coached like they are Kobe or Lebron or something it's bizarre. If I'm Paulo or Jabari I definitely wouldn't want to come in knowing the coach and GM are going to let Christian freaking Wood take 4 step back 3's in a row, and take the ball up the court like he's Chris Paul. I don't want to trade or wave them for nothing mind you... but I want the organization to stop treating them as though their development is the only thing that matters to this franchise. It's not. They need to be coached like any other player.
There’s no one on the team generating open looks for Wood, or anyone else. He’s shooting 45% from 3 in the last 35 games. He can take as many step back 3s as he wants considering the situation.
He can be a building block by facilitating this trade: SAC in: Christian Wood + HOU FRP (#16) HOU in: Maurice Harkless + Terence Davis + SAC FRP (#5) Add any spare parts as needed. Sacramento is in win-now mode. They need a polished player over a draft prospect. They can see how Wood works for 2/3 of the year and decide if he looks like a keeper that they will have the rights to for their own purposes, or a SNT, or move him ahead of the deadline. The Rockets get no contracts longer than Wood, though they might have to take a smaller unwanted one in the deal, and they get another top prospect for their rebuild.
You would rather, but that’s not the best option for the team, which is why he does it. He wasn’t shooting step back 3s when Harden was on the team. Imagine fans complaining about a guy shooting when he’s 45% from 3 over 35 games…
Wood would be fine if he could play the 3 on defense. If he can he would be worth 20m a year. I’m not convinced he can do that, but if he could a lineup of Green, Ivey, Wood, Sengun, a real PF with length would be an outstanding offensive team and depending on the PF a decent defensive team. Who is that PF and how do we get him?
The thing about Wood is even if I talk myself into the idea that he could help us, he needs to change his idea that he wants a max contract. Sorry, but unless he can put up 39 points every night, his defensive liabilities are too great (IMO) for a contract like that which means next year is his last in Houston. And we aint winnin' nothin' next year.
He may think he is worth a max contract, but no-one will give him one. The question is can he play defense as a SF. I think he could be an average defensive SF and a great floor spacer on offense. He needs 2 things, a new coach and a reasonable contract demand, 18m seems about right to me.
Everyone wants a max contract. It doesn’t matter unless there’s a team willing to offer him that. If we draft a big with our pick this year then Wood needs to be moved, otherwise he fits fine next to Sengun as stretch 4. There are 16 bigs who shoot over 4 threes a game this year, only two shoot at a higher % than Wood: Bobby Portis and KAT. Wood is an elite shooter as a stretch 4 and that’s exactly what you want next to Sengun.
LOL CWood won't play as a SF. He's too slow laterally to be an SF. CWood is like Eric Gordon to me, he's a really good 3rd offensive option for a champ team but if you want him to be your franchise cornerstone then you become the worst record in the L. A lot of people here are hating on him for no reason, at his current contract Wood's play is really good. You don't expect a franchise player to come to your team as a free agent and only make 15M a year. He has bad defense but so what lots of guys have bad defenses KaT, Lebron, Doncic, Trae Young etc Point is you don't pay him for his defense, you pay him for efficient scoring, range up to 3 pt feet and rebounding. If he was on a good team like Miami or playing with superstars like in LA you'd see him shine and be an All star candidate.
It matters if it turned into a Carlos Correa type situation where no one gives him what he wants, but he signs elsewhere anyway.
It matters if it turns into a Carlos Correa type situation where no one gives him what he wants, but he signs elsewhere anyway. No compensation pick in the NBA so we get nothing out of it in such a case.
