Grading the Detroit Pistons 2019 offseason moves
Pistons claim Christian Wood
Christian Wood has had to battle for his NBA career and he’s going to be up to the task again. The Pistons claimed Wood off of free agency waivers in July.
Essentially, his contract is non-guaranteed until the start of the regular season. The Pistons also signed Michael Beasley to a non-guaranteed contract. That, seemingly, is who the competition is between. Otherwise, it may be a sign that another move is made before the season begins.
Wood, who turns 24 before training camp, averages 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game in his brief NBA career. He’s played 51 games and could be a legitimate backup in the Pistons frontcourt with the ability to space the floor and play on the blocks.
What’s most impressive about Wood is that he’s been a star in the Gatorade League. He was named Second-Team All-G-League after averaging 29.3 points, 14 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Wisconsin Herd.
GRADE: A-
It’s hard to say if Wood makes the Pistons roster. They need frontcourt depth and he seems like a viable option at power forward and center. It’s a low-risk, high-reward option for the Pistons if it works out.