Toronto Raptors Receive: F/C Christian Wood
Houston Rockets Receive: C Precious Achiuwa, G Malachi Flynn, C Khem Birch (Likely to go to third team), TOR 2023 1st Round Pick (Lottery-Protected), TOR 2025 2nd Round Pick
If the Toronto Raptors are to pursue Christian Wood without giving up any of their core five players, then they will have a hard time maintaining any of their youth.
Wood is set to make $14.3 million next season in the final year of his contract and since Toronto will enter the offseason already over the salary cap, it will be hard for them to find contracts that align with that of Christian Wood.
Moving either OG Anunoby or Gary Trent Jr. for Christian Wood is an option, but should they look to keep both Anunoby and Trent Jr., then the Raptors will have no choice other than to offer a trade package consisting of Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn and Khem Birch.
Should this be the offer going to Houston, it would likely mean that a third or fourth team would be involved as well since the Houston Rockets would not want to take back Khem Birch and his salary.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Christian Wood, PJ Washington Among Heat Trade Targets
As for Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn though, they would become two more young pieces for the Rockets to experiment with in their rebuild. Not to mention, the Rockets would add onto their vast collection of draft picks.
For Toronto, acquiring Christian Wood would immediately make their core group one of the most well-balanced starting units in the league.
Their frontcourt of Siakam and Wood would be tough to stop on either end of the court and by inserting Christian Wood into the starting lineup, the Raptors would be able to bring either OG Anunoby or Gary Trent Jr. into games off-the-bench as their sixth-man.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Christian Wood, PJ Washington Among Heat Trade Targets
Giving up both Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn would be tough for Toronto to do since they are both young key pieces in their second-unit, but Wood is an upgrade from Achiuwa and the Raptors did engage in some trade talks centered around Flynn at this year’s trade deadline.
If Masai Ujiri and the Raptors’ front-office are willing to sacrifice future assets to win now, Christian Wood could very well be their top target heading into the offseason.
