The Houston Rockets have begun the 2021-22 NBA season with a record of 1-3 and there will likely be a lot more losing in their future. They began a youth movement this offseason, as Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr. are the only players remaining on the team from the Daryl Morey era.
It hasn’t even been a year since the Daryl Morey era ended in Houston, so it is fair to say they are diving headfirst into this rebuild. That became even more evident when they used the four first-round picks they had in the 2021 NBA Draft on teenagers.
People are waiting to see when the Rockets will unload some of their veterans. In addition to Gordon and House, the team is also trying to find a new home for John Wall. Wall and the organization agreed that he wouldn’t play in games while the team scoured the league for a trade.
Knowing how long this rebuild could take, there is one more player to keep an eye on when it comes to the trade market; Christian Wood.
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Wood signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Detroit Pistons last offseason and was subsequently dealt to the Rockets in a sign-and-trade deal. Wood had shown a lot of promise with the Pistons, so the Rockets took a gamble that he would blossom in a starting role as a go-to player and the organization was correct.
Wood produced career-highs across the board in the 2020-21 season, averaging 21 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 32.2 minutes per game. He even showed the ability to stretch the floor, shooting 37.4 percent from the 3-point line and an efficient 51.4 percent overall.
The only downside to Wood’s season was that he was unable to stay on the court. He played in only 41 games, battling numerous nagging injuries. With the team well outside of playoff contention, they weren’t going to rush him back to play.
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Christian Wood is only 26-years old, but the Houston Rockets may consider parting ways with him while his value is as high as it is. Committing what could be a lucrative deal to him when he is a free agent again in 2023 may not fit the timeline that the Rockets are on. By the time the Rockets are truly ready to contend, Wood could be on the backside of his prime.
Listening to offers wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Rockets. Teams would be willing to pay a nice price for a player of Wood’s caliber, so Houston could receive some good assets in return.
Young players with high upside that fit the team’s timeline better and draft capital could have Rockets’ management seriously considering a deal. Building up the war chest now so that they can swing a deal for a difference-maker later, as they did with James Harden when they acquired him from the Oklahoma City Thunder, could be the route they look to take here.
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Ultimately, the Houston Rockets are probably best holding onto Christian Wood for now. If he can remain healthy and produce at the clip he is right now, his value might go even higher. There is no harm in listening to offers, but the Rockets would have to be blown away to consider trading their current best player.
