The Miami Heat are continuing to do their best to acquire star point guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers before the 2023-24 NBA season. Lillard and his camp have made it clear that Miami is where he wants to be, so it feels like a matter of when, not if, he is on the move to South Beach.
To make the deal work, the Heat are likely going to part with multiple players. Lillard’s contract is huge, so matching money will take a few pieces. Coupled with the players who departed in free agency, as Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Cody Zeller and Omer Yurtseven all left, Miami is going to need some reinforcements.
One player that they could turn their attention to after a Lillard deal gets done is big man Christian Wood. When speaking about the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of signing him, Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times mentioned that the Heat could be a suitor for him as well.
“Sources also believe that the Miami Heat could be a suitor for Wood, particularly if they’re able to pull off a Damian Lillard trade. The Heat were rumored to be in the market for Dario Saric before he picked Golden State and the Lakers had interest in Saric as well.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat Updates
The Heat already lost Vincent to the Lakers earlier in free agency, so they are going to do their best to not lose a second player to them. What it could come down to, as both teams only have the veteran’s minimum to offer, is the kind of role he will have.
Per Woike, part of the reason that Wood could still be a free agent is that he has some major deficiencies that have been seen as a turnoff by coaches and teammates. His stats paint him out to be a good rim protector, but his awareness defensively is lacking. He also believes himself to be in a higher tier than how the league views him, which has led to some concerns about professionalism.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat Updates
But, at this stage of free agency, finding a perfect player isn’t going to happen. Everyone available to be signed still has flaws; it comes down to how you can manage them and if their best skills fit with your roster.
For the Heat, an offensive-minded player with some defensive deficiencies is a good fit for them. Given the culture that they have built and how stingy of a team they are on the defensive side of the ball, they should be able to overcome Wood’s shortcomings.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Christian Wood, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat Updates
His scoring ability, especially 3-point shooting, is something they desperately need more of. With Vincent and Strus, two of their better shooters, moving on in free agency, that need became even bigger.
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