An agent who spoke to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic speculates that Christian Wood may lose some leverage on the free agent market this offseason as a result of two factors: The impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on the salary cap and the fact that the Pistons have a new general manager in Troy Weaver.
As the agent points out, Weaver has a fresh slate and doesn’t necessarily have an attachment to Wood, so he may be reluctant to commit big money to the breakout big man, since it would hamper his flexibility going forward. And since few teams around the NBA will have cap room available, the Pistons may be able to play hardball to some extent with Wood and avoid making a massive commitment.
“To me, Christian Wood and his reps have a tricky situation because you have that situation with the Pistons’ (new GM), the lack of a rise in cap space and things like that,” the agent told Edwards. “They have to play their hand right, or they could be out there looking for a chair in a game of musical chairs.”
The agent added that he’d feel more comfortable investing long-term in Luke Kennard – who will be extension-eligible this offseason – than in Wood, given the way the wing and big man positions are valued in the modern NBA.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Keith Langlois of Pistons.com takes a closer look at the Pistons’ purchase of the Northern Arizona Suns, detailing how it will allow the team to move its G League affiliate to Detroit and why the organization felt the investment will be a worthwhile one.
- As Langlois details in a separate article at Pistons.com, Weaver and the Pistons’ front office will face a difficult challenge in this year’s draft: Finding a potential franchise cornerstone in a draft class that appears lacking in surefire stars.
- Rod Beard of The Detroit News spoke to Bucks general manager Jon Horst about David Mincberg, whom the Pistons recently hired away from Milwaukee as an assistant general manager. “I think that he’s a very creative thinker that has a persistent, tactful way of approaching things,” Horst said of Mincberg. “And that, for me, was incredibly beneficial.”
- It remains to be seen whether the NBA will actually move forward with a reported plan to create a second “bubble” in Chicago for the league’s bottom eight teams, but Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press explores whether such an arrangement would benefit the Pistons.
Knicks future starting 5. Ball or/Halliburton, Beal or/Booker, RJ, Wood, and Robinson.
They can overpay to get Wood, but Beal or Booker? No way.
Beal or Booker or Mitchell don’t happen without RJ AND the first this year.
You’re not getting them AND keeping your best assets.
The max Pistons can offer Wood and Kennard are 3 years 45 million each
What will happen?
They are better off finding a way to trade blake Griffin contract so they can make room to sign both of those guys.
Nobody in the league is going to help the Pistons out with that unless the Pistons are attaching this year’s first…..which they won’t so Pistons are stuck with Griffin
Wood may only be a transitional filler for whoever they’re going with next, but it will take them at least three years to get there, and they have to put someone on the court in the interim. That goes for Kennard too.
It sounds like 4/$50 for Wood, 3/$38 for Kennard.
I doubt there is high demand.
CHA says they won’t be bidding, neither would appeal to Rose/Thibs, and Atlanta already has Huerter & Collins, though they could lose Collins. TOR could lose players too.
But most teams will be saving for 2021.
Fans (sometimes including owners) won’t be pushing GMs to sign players, since the window will be so short.
Small market don’t care 2021 free agency
Boy Wood has come a long way from when he could barely stay on the Bucks final roster spot. Not a bad player.
Knicks have scouted Woods long and hard. I watched his tape a lot. I see Knicks going after him. Woods seems like more a C who can step out. I can see him and Mitch playing. Be a big lineup. Both are athletic bigs. But I still see Woods more as a C. He’d be great Addition as depth, first big off bench. Or share C with Mitch. Mitch is still young. And does get into foul trouble. I rather have him than Portis (15 mill). With Thibs here. I only see Woods as depth 6-7 man. Then Pistons shouldn’t just let him walk. But I doubt they go higher than 10 mill. At 25 yrs old they should try and keep him. I believe Griffin can be moved to OKC. His hometown loves him. They can use him while they rebuild. Payton, Portis, Ellington all can be cut. Taj too but he is a Thibs guy. So I see Knicks keeping him. Only has one more yr left. There is not going to be a big market for Woods. So Knicks better not overpay. He’s a better fit than Randle and Portis. So I’m good with him on team. Always thought he was a solid big at UNLV.