Detroit Pistons: Interesting company next to Troy Weaver at Summer League

There are plenty of storylines surrounding the Detroit Pistons’ first summer league game. Ausar’s cool and collected facilitating, Wiseman and Duren’s big games in the post, Marcus Sasser’s hot start from deep to name a few. But what stood out to many online was the company sitting around GM Troy Weaver and HC Monty Williams, in particular, Christian Wood.

Seen sitting next to Weaver and Williams was former Detroit Piston, Christian Wood. Wood was signed by Detroit back in 2019 by the previous regime after having a breakout season in New Orleans. Wood would have his second consecutive breakout season with Detroit during the 2019-2020 season, averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 assists per game with the Pistons. During the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline, Detroit continued their tear down and traded the big man to Houston for veteran forward Trevor Ariza, and a first round pick that would become Isaiah Stewart. The originally undrafted 6-foot-9 PF is currently a free agent after finishing out his contract last season with the Dallas Mavericks.

Could Christian Wood help the Detroit Pistons?

If added to the current Detroit Pisotns’ roster, Wood would bring an angle to this team they currently do not have. With Dallas last season, Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. In addition to the impressive overall averages, Christian shoots the three ball extremely well. Since his breakout season, Wood averages close to 38.5 percent from deep. Currently, the Detroit Pistons do not have a big who can space the floor as well as Wood does. Isaiah Stewart has made it a point to improve from deep, but has yet to see the success that Wood has so adding the free agent would fill an obvious hole.

While it’s a fun game to play, and the Pistons could absolutely still use shooting help at the four, it’s not likely Detroit and Wood have a reunion. A stretch four is still a massive need for Detroit after missing out on the likes of Jerami Grant and Cam Johnson, but the roster fit/need just isn’t there. Detroit already has a log jam at the 4/5 position, albeit a poor floor-stretching log jam, and adding another big man free agent to the formula just doesn’t compute. It’s much more likely Wood signs with a competing team like the Lakers, who he is rumored to be in contact with.