Over the past few months, the New York Knicks there are reports the team is ‘enamored’ with Christian Wood. The Detroit Pistons big man is going to be a free-agent and could be heading to the Big Apple. However, do the Knicks take a chance?
For what it’s worth, it seems like the Knicks are the only team that’s ‘enamored’ with Wood. If he was already a great defender and player then he would be one of the most coveted free agents this summer. Doesn’t seem like it, yet at least.
In his first three seasons, Wood has averaged 5.3 points per. He had his struggles on defense when he came into the league. But Wood has a positive upside to his game. There have been improvements each season but nothing like people thought. The only that’s concerning is the Knicks over-hyping a player like this.
This season Wood improved offensively averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds while playing 21 minutes per. There’s progression in his 3-point shot as well but defense still needs work. Staying in front of his matching and switching is the best things. The Knicks are awful at defense already. Makes no sense to sign someone who isn’t an above-average defender.
However, after the Pistons got rid of Andre Drummond, that was when the Knicks could’ve started to fall in love. The only 5 games Wood played in March he might’ve jump started his big leap in the league. Wood averaged 26.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per. He added 4 blocks, 5 steals and shot 10-23 from beyond the arc during that stretch. Maybe Drummond was holding Wood back?
It seems like the Knicks could be taking gamble on a player like Wood. He could play well in a smaller market, then a team tosses big money at him and he doesn’t perform. Wouldn’t be surprising if it’s a trap contract.
With this new regime coming in hopefully they can change the narrative of the organization. Unless, Leon Rose has a great eye for talent and Wood can become a breakout star. The Knicks have took chances of players in the past. Whether those players are over-hyped or coming off an injury, it doesn’t matter. The front office falls in love with what players could be or what a player was in the past. Let’s hope Rose gets this one right for the New York Knicks if they’re truly ‘enamored’.