Who better to analyze what Christian Wood brings to the Detroit Pistons than Pelican Debrief Site Expert Christopher Dodson, who will miss the young forward.
Christian Wood is somewhat of an unknown as to what he will offer the Detroit Pistons at the NBA level.
On Wednesday, the Pistons claimed Wood, 23, off of free agency waivers, bringing their roster to 17 with two, two-way contracts and Wood’s non-guaranteed contract. He can secure his roster spot with a strong start during training camp and the preseason. His contract guarantees at the opening tip-off of the regular season.
Pelican Debrief Site Expert Christopher Dodson is high on Wood, thinking the Pelicans let one get away. He took some time to answer a few questions to provide a realistic expectation and evaluation of what Wood can bring to Detroit.
Q: What are Wood’s greatest strengths and areas of improvement on offense?
CD: “Having watched every game, it’s tough to part ways with Wood. Fans were excited when he arrived, for good reason. With Milwaukee he stayed engaged through a season full of DNP-CD (did not play-coach’s decision) stat lines. When he did make the 12-man dress team, he was effective in limited minutes.
The season opener, he sat for all but five minutes. He then came in and hit a three, grabbed a board, led a break, and played solid defense to see out the game. This was a trend for his first 14 appearances.
Then the New Orleans Pelicans brought him in. His first active game was against Houston. He came in, hit 3-of-5 shots, including a 3-pointer, and looked good enough to play out a lost season. Wood was given starters minutes in Game 73 against Atlanta and proved he belonged in the Association.
In his first game getting substantial minutes, Wood dropped 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked six shots.
Look at his first two shots. Wood establishes position down low. The announcers have time to point out the pass is days late to arrive. The pass is forced to Wood anyways. He catches a pass, some NFL hopeful would drop, and then scores His next shot he drains a 3-pointer from the wing. Pelicans fans have loved him ever since.
Sure, he can improve his percentage from deep, but who couldn’t. Teams will still have to respect his shot.
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Wood’s next make was an alley-oop. It’s worth two points but does not end in a dunk. Next Wood gets the same look at a wing 3-pointer. The defender closes out, so Wood pumps, dribbles, drives, scores, and draws the foul. How many guys playing the five can do that? Anthony Davis does not count.
His greatest strength is his well rounded game. The Bucks and Pelicans were facing roster crunch situations, so Wood was waived. He does not have one dominate move that stands out, but over time he is able to beat the bottom third percentile of front court players.
Q: What kind of defensive impact did he make in his limited NBA time?
CD: He can get block happy, but he is learning to pick his spots. He is quick to bail on rebounds, but that could have been Alvin Gentry’s marching orders. Wood can switch down and guard some perimeter players. Against bigger players, he has a tendency to give ground and gamble with a steal. When it doesn’t work it, it is at least a bucket, and maybe a foul.
Q: What should Pistons fans expectations be?
CD: Wood’s expectations as a Piston is being everything the best of Darko Milicic could have been but with athleticism. Wood could also be the best next to Andre Drummond, as Blake Griffin ages or is traded. Wood and Thon Maker could be interchangeable, and would make a interesting duo.
At the end of the year, I could see the fan base all wanting him back, but not at the extra million some other team will give him.
If Wood’s contract is guaranteed, the Pistons will have their active roster full at 15, with the additional two-way contracts. This provides a good look of what to expect out of Wood next season. Special thanks to Christopher Dodson for shedding some insight on what he saw of Wood’s time with the Pelicans.