Easier to find 4 to defend 1-5 in our switch everything defense than finding a 5 that could do this. And Wood is mismatch for most 5's.
Keeping JA would have been the smarter move for sure because it increases Rockets options, on AND off the court.
I dont think Wood has the quicks to keep up defensively with most 4s to be honest. He doesnt seem to have the defensive recover abilities to go from defending the 3 at the line and then breaking down and having lateral quickness to get to the restricted area as the ball handler tries to drive. He's a new age 5 to me.
Because that's where his advantages are. Putting him at SF/PF (these are interchangeable) emphasizes all of his weaknesses, and the Rockets get worse on both ends of the floor. I don't want Wood running a wing, I want him running the pipe. I want him in an unclogged lane ready to finish. JA would completely decimate pick and roll spacing. SVG would have him at PF for sure, but SVG is an idiot.
We need to have him as a 5 A banger 4 PF. A defensive specialist SF with long arms. A volume scorer at the Off guard slot who plays off ball. A Pass- first PG. No combo guards need apply unless they're ok with being 6th men. Also we need a coach who wears bad fitting suits who emphasizes rebounding, a GM who looks for players with a winning attitude or good measurables or some combo of both. Time to hit the tape room to see if any of this stuff is out there
Wood is cool at the 5 but has a slight frame and can be moved off the block. Rockets need a defensive minded 5 with more muscle or elite rim protection especially to let Wood slide to the 4 sometimes.
I think we will just have to wait and see who we end up getting before passing judgement on this JA thing... We could end up with a much better 4 that fits our system and fits better next to Wood than JA. A more versatile 4. JA is just a rebounder and roller in my opinion, I like him and all but hey if we rebuilding then go find a better option since you now have the time and asses to do so. How much was JA going to cost to keep after this year? So im not saying you wrong D-Rock, im just saying we have not got the guy we want yet so lets just hold off a little bit and see who we do get and then we can compare...
I just think that Wood can work with a Good Center. There are two options. 1. WOOD plays the Sampson Role - Sampson and Olajuwon 2. Wood plays the Olajuwon role - Otis Thorpe and Olajuwon Rocket River
Sadly looking back, we could have all those if we played our cards right. Should have kept JA (A banger 4 PF) Should have traded Tucker and Kept Covington (A defensive specialist SF with long arms) We got Gordon (A volume scorer at the Off guard slot who plays off ball) Should have kept CP3 over Westbrick (A Pass- first PG) CP3/Gordon/Covington/Allen/Wood
Wood was playing at All Star level at center before his injury. Playing Wood at 4 spot likely makes him less effective, similar to when he played alongside Andre Drummond. Wood CAN play 4 spot but that does not weaponize him like playing him at 5 spot does. Imagine how many fewer touches our most efficient player will get playing a wing position instead of the pivot. Wall will forget about him completely like he does Tucker.