Give Us Wood

[Handlogten's Heros]

As you have seen I have been pimping Christian Wood in other threads... Did a little more homework and the more I dig the more I think this is absolutely a guy that could be the missing piece. He's a minimum salary guy so matching is easy. Detroit has no bird rights on him so will need to use cap space or MLE to keep him and they have more pressing needs right now. I would make a very strong offer right now if I were DL because if these numbers continue he will be ungettable through trade this year.

Let's just check some numbers...

- He is top 10 in true shooting percentage
- He is top 12 in free throw rate while using 25% of his possessions on 3 point attempts. Only one other dude in that mix and it's Joel Embiid.
- He's shooting 40% from three. Career 35% but on less than 100 total attempts.
- His per 36 numbers are 21/11 and 1.7 blks… he's playing 16 minutes a night and should be playing more.
- His team has a defensive rating that is 10 pts better when he is on the court versus when he is off... this may be because Blake is toast.
- He is currently #5 in RPM among PFs. #13 overall.

Dude was a pretty talented prospect... but had some background and maturity red flags. He has bounced around the league but we are coming up on a 40 game sample of him being really productive.

The guy was waived this offseason and was on the roster bubble before Joe Johnson got hurt and was cut... if we were to send one of our minimum guys and a couple seconds I would think Detroit would consider it. They could have one of our rotation minimums like Niang or Mudiay if they'd like... maybe send a few million in cash because that team has to be losing money...

TLDR... DL and JZ give us Wood please!

 

[infection]

I support. We can play him and Gobert against LA when they go big.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Just looked up some of this stuff a bit ago. It's hard to believe that either it's legit, or that if it is, that Detroit would let him go for such a pittance.

I'm all for it, though. They can have anything they want that isn't one of our top-7 (our only real) players, a 1st, or one million 2nds.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

Can Wood shoot at all? I could see the Jazz try to pick up a defensive specialist like Nerlens Noel (who is also on a min. contract), but the spacing goes to crap if he's on the floor with another non-shooter.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Can Wood shoot at all? I could see the Jazz try to pick up a defensive specialist like Nerlens Noel (who is also on a min. contract), but the spacing goes to crap if he's on the floor with another non-shooter.

~40% from 3 on a decent rate (~3 per 36).

 

[Miggs]

I support it. But at season’e end, we would have no Bird Rights as well, right?

So after (presumably) extending Royce and using the full MLE on someone, we wouldn’t even be able to re-sign him lest we used partial MLE on him and partial on someone else, right?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Just looked up some of this stuff a bit ago. It's hard to believe that either it's legit, or that if it is, that Detroit would let him go for such a pittance.

I'm all for it, though. They can have anything they want that isn't one of our top-7 (our only real) players, a 1st, or one million 2nds.

The advanced models are bonkers on the guy...Raptor, RPM and it could be a bit fluky for sure... but even if he isn't in that league he's still really frickin good... he's also doing this with Brown, Kennard, Galloway, Rose with his wing guys... what would he do if he had better wings?

They should not trade him for what I proposed... they aren't playing him enough though so maybe they don't view him the same way... even if its a fluke he's the right in between piece the roster needs. They don't have bird rights... if they keep Drummond they don't have cap space and would need to use MLE to retain him. They'd have like 75% of their cap dedicated to PF and C at that point.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I support it. But at season’e end, we would have no Bird Rights as well, right?

So after (presumably) extending Royce and using the full MLE on someone, we wouldn’t even be able to re-sign him lest we used partial MLE on him and partial on someone else, right?

We would have the full MLE to retain him, like most good teams. However, we would get whatever good from him NOW, that is him playing for his first real NBA contract and playing very well during a season where the window is probably more open than it will be in later years (Joe and Conley ain't getting younger, Gobert and Mitchell will get fat raises). I have not moved one bit that this is the season to go for it.

Lastly, it gives him the chance to see how he likes it here. Most people don't love moving.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I support it. But at season’e end, we would have no Bird Rights as well, right?

So after (presumably) extending Royce and using the full MLE on someone, we wouldn’t even be able to re-sign him lest we used partial MLE on him and partial on someone else, right?

We can use MLE... if he outplays that and gets a better offer we got a ****ing bargain.

 

[Miggs]

I guess what I’m saying is, is this the type of guy we want to spend the full MLE on? Is he really “the missing link”? Just thinking out loud.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I guess what I’m saying is, is this the type of guy we want to spend the full MLE on? Is he really “the missing link”? Just thinking out loud.

If he even resembles the player he's been this year then he is an absolute steal with the MLE. And again, let's not understate the value of helping in a big way this season.

 

[Miggs]

Let’s assume we don’t have enough assets to get him. That they want more.

Would anyone do Morris and Wood for Royce?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Let’s assume we don’t have enough assets to get him. That they want more.

Would anyone do Morris and Wood for Royce?

No... Royce is more proven and we need the wing depth...

I might offer them a fake first... Like a top 20 protected 2023 1st that turns into two seconds.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Let’s assume we don’t have enough assets to get him. That they want more.

Would anyone do Morris and Wood for Royce?

Hmm. That's tough. Would have to think about that, but I lean no. That's about as literal as a one-in-hand vs. two-in-the-bush situation as I can think of.

 

[NUMBERICA]

No... Royce is more proven and we need the wing depth...

I might offer them a fake first... Like a top 20 protected 2023 1st that turns into two seconds.

And/or fake pick swap.

 

[Miggs]

No... Royce is more proven and we need the wing depth...

I might offer them a fake first... Like a top 20 protected 2023 1st that turns into two seconds.

Not saying I advocate this fwiw but I just don’t see us having the assets to get him and see something like this as necessary. Unless we want to go the route you proposed which I like.

 

[Miggs]

Email JZ with your proposition, HH. Tell him to start with Wood for Niang and a 2nd. See what they say.

 

[infection]

I might offer them a fake first... Like a top 20 protected 2023 1st that turns into two seconds.

Hmm. That's tough. Would have to think about that, but I lean no. That's about as literal as a one-in-hand vs. two-in-the-bush situation as I can think of.

These are my favorites. We should pull off more sleight-of-hand moves. Or at least incentivize the other FO to make moves they can put PR spin on.

 

[Miggs]

Is Wood a pure 4?

 

[Miggs]

Through the looking glass, how would we feel if we were the Pistons? Probably solidly knowing we couldn’t ante up for Wood and that we may get a 1st out of it with a little luck.