The Miami Heat are chugging right along this season as they are currently atop the Eastern Conference standings. It is an impressive feat, as they have been shuffling their lineup constantly throughout the 2021-22 NBA season.
Bam Adebayo has missed 25 games. Jimmy Butler has missed 18. Kyle Lowry is away from the team currently for a personal matter. Despite all of that, the team has found a way to continue winning games and look like legitimate title contenders.
Despite their success thus far, Miami isn’t an organization that is going to sit idly by. They are in a good position right now but know that there is still plenty of work to be done. If the opportunity arises for them to make an upgrade to the roster, Pat Riley will pull the trigger on a move.
One player that the Heat has had their eye on is Christian Wood of the Houston Rockets. Wood has seen his production slip a little bit this season but has proven to be a solid big man that can get the job done on both ends of the court.
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He would fit in perfectly as the starting power forward alongside Adebayo, while also being able to slide over to the center spot in relief of Adebayo as well. Adding another big man to the rotation is likely near the Heat’s to-do list if they are going to swing a bigger deal.
But, can the Heat afford the Rockets’ asking price that will be placed on Wood? According to Bleacher Report, there have been some discussions about Duncan Robinson heading to the Rockets, but Houston would be seeking more in return.
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It is not surprising that Houston would be looking to acquire more than just Duncan Robinson in a deal centered around Wood. Robinson has turned things around with his 3-point shooting in recent games, but he likely isn’t a very attractive piece to the Rockets.
Houston is in the early stages of a rebuild. Adding a 27 going on 28-year old who is in the midst of the worst 3-point shooting season of his career doesn’t seem like a player Houston would want. Add in the fact he is in the first year of a five-year, $90 million deal and it becomes even less attractive for a team in the position that the Rockets are in.
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Given Christian Wood’s age and contract, the Houston Rockets are right to be looking for more in return than the Miami Heat is capable of providing. He is their best trade asset and they should get maximum value for him if they trade him.
If Miami wants to get their guy, they will likely have to get a third team involved that can bolster the package heading to Houston to get them to consider parting ways with Wood.
