Christian Wood
The Cleveland Cavaliers successfully ran an experiment in which they played seven-footer Lauri Markkanen as their starting small forward. While Lauri didn’t exactly thrive in the role, the Cavs were still able to score and defend effectively as a unit despite his shortcomings on both ends of the court.
Imagine if they could deploy a more mobile, more talented big in that role — someone like the Houston Rocket’s Christian Wood. He is just as dangerous an outside shooter as Markkanen, if not more so, and is better suited to play on the wings in just about every other aspect.
Neither of them is a great defender, but Wood certainly is the more mobile player which will allow him to better chase down opposing wings along the perimeter.
Markkanen has the ability to put the ball on the floor to attack closeouts and threaten the rim with his massive frame and surprisingly apt ballhandling, but Christian Wood is quicker and smoother with the ball in his hands.
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Of course, the Cavs run the risk of Wood turning out to be even more of a headache in Cleveland than he was with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. But that risk makes him an available piece despite all of his talent for a relatively low price.
A swap involving Christian Wood and Markkanen makes sense for both teams, and the 14th-overall pick should be enough of an incentive for the Rockets to pull the trigger.