If you type Christian Wood into a search engine, don’t be surprised if autofill suggests “trade rumors” following the name entering the NBA offseason.
That’s how frequently the Houston Rockets big man is mentioned in hypothetical exchanges. It makes sense. Wood was brought on to complement a backcourt duo of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The 26-year-old makes less sense for the team if he’s part of a rebuild.
That holds especially true in the Rockets’ case. After all, soon-to-be-sophomore Alperen Sengun figures to be a big part of this rebuild.
Furthermore, they have the third pick in the upcoming draft. They’ll pick one of Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, or Jabari Smith Jr. Any of the three figures to encroach on Wood’s minutes.
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All signs point in the direction of a Wood trade this summer. He’ll have his suitors. While his defensive effort can wain at times, he’s a 6’10 combo big who shot 39% from long range in 2021-22.
The Miami Heat should be interested in a player like that. Having been eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday, they’ll be looking to retool this summer. Here are two trades that send Christian Wood their way.
