3 reasons why the Houston Rockets shouldn’t trade Christian Wood

Houston Rockets reason #2 to not trade Christian Wood: He’s 25, not 35

This may seem obvious to most, but it has become a topic of conversation nonetheless. When the Rocket’s circumstances took a turn for the worst and it was clear that they were heading to the lottery, the franchise pushed a youth movement to the forefront.

The Rockets eventually traded away P.J. Tucker, released DeMarcus Cousins, and with injuries to Sterling Brown and David Nwaba, it opened up the way for younger players like KJ Martin Jr., DJ Wilson, Armoni Brooks, and many others to play heavy minutes.

When an NBA team has the worst record, the prevailing thought is to completely bottom out and play mostly young players until you find your next star. The Rockets have a pair of 20 and 21-year-old players in Kevin Porter Jr. and Kenyon Martin, who could become star-level players at some point in the future. This leads people to believe that Wood at 25 does not fit their timeline.

Look at any contending team in the NBA, and you would almost certainly see a roster that has good to great veteran players on that team. However, you will not compete for a championship or go deep in the playoffs with a roster filled with nothing but 20 and 21-year-old players, no matter how talented they are.

Of course, no one is saying the Rockets will compete for a championship next year, but at 25, Wood has not even sniffed his potential. Most players do not hit their peak until 28-30 years old. This is the first year Wood was the number one option on any NBA team, and with most NBA players, it takes experience to take that next step.

Next: Reason #1