3 lessons Christian Wood has learned since being dealt by Rockets

2. The league doesn't believe in him as much as he believes in himself

Let's make no mistake- Christian Wood has proven to be a good player. Better yet, serviceable.

Whichever word you want to use. The point is he's talented.

Wood was the Rockets' leading scorer in 2021-22 and was one of just three players in 2020-21 to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, while also shooting 50 percent from the field and at least 35 percent from three. As for the other two, you ask?

Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic- two MVPs.

As a starter with the Mavs in 2022-23, Wood averaged 20.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. Again, it's known what he can do.

In spite of that, Wood remains on the free agent market more than two weeks after it started. This is rare for someone with Wood's skillset.

Not to mention someone who is just 27-years-old.

Wood, who has mentioned that he believes he's a max player, appears to be on the verge of getting a veteran's minimum deal. That's quite the contrast.

Wood has also mentioned that he believes he should've been an All-Star in 2020-21, but he likely wouldn't have made the cut even if he didn't injure his ankle around the All-Star break. Wood is also a traffic cone on defense and has consistently put up empty stats with a high usage rate (24.4 percent for his career).

Perhaps this is why he finds himself on the market still.

He wasn't a priority to any other team. Not even the Mavs, despite being one of just two players on their team to shoot at least 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep (Kyrie Irving was the other one).

It seems he needed a reality check. Regardless of his belief in himself and his value, the league clearly sees him in a different light.