3 lessons Christian Wood has learned since being dealt by Rockets

Heading into the 2020 offseason, the Houston Rockets were in a state of flux. The franchise had just concluded a 2019-20 season in which they reached the Western Conference Semifinals but weren't able to stave off defeat to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Rockets made several deadline deals to allow the franchise to completely adopt the small ball strategy, which resulted in PJ Tucker becoming the team's permanent starting center. But it was clear that the Rockets were in need of additional scoring, as James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 61 of the Rockets 118 points per game.

The Rockets' third wheel was going to have to come via free agency, and the franchise locked in on Christian Wood, who had posted averages of 21.9 points and 9.4 rebounds in limited action as a starter for the Detroit Pistons in the previous season. However, Westbrook wanted out and was subsequently dealt, followed by the eventual exit of Harden. 

3 lessons Christian Wood has learned since being dealt by Rockets

Wood eventually became the Rockets' primary scoring option, after initially joining as a second option or potential third banana. What followed was a tumultuous stint with the Rockets, followed by an eventual trade to the Dallas Mavericks.

After spending one season with the Mavs and posting averages of 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 37.6 percent from three, and 62.4 percent true shooting, Wood has found it difficult to find a long-term landing situation. In fact, the Mavs had no interest in keeping Wood beyond the 2022-23 season after parting with a first-round pick to acquire him.

This is certainly not what Wood expected and it says three things.

3. No team was going to take care of him like the Rockets

The Rockets valued Wood quite highly - so much that they rejected trade offers for anything less than a first-round pick. This could be viewed as lofty, as Wood bounced around to every team west of the Mississippi River (okay, not literally) and every team couldn't wait to get rid of him.

The Rockets even viewed Wood as a part of their future. So much that they even approached him about a contract extension, which Wood even admitted himself.

"We have had talks. It's something we can talk about later in the summer, but we will have to see."

Granted, this could be because the Rockets couldn't fetch a trade to their liking, so they may have felt like they were stuck with him. But regardless, they were legitimately interested in giving him a long-term extension, which none of the other 300 teams he suited up for had any remote interest in doing.

The Rockets brokered those conversations with Wood despite him making it known that he wanted a max contract (which is hilarious, looking back). Granted, just because he wants a max deal doesn't mean he has to get one, sure.

But the point is that the Rockets were aware of the hefty price tag that he wanted. And they were only able to offer him a four-year deal worth $77 million and proceeded to have extension talks. The Rockets were planning to build around Wood.

No other team was going to do this.

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.

1. Wood's poor attitude matters more than his talent

Many have wondered why a player who can average around 20 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 37 percent from long-range on a healthy amount of attempts wouldn't be able to stick with a team. To date, Wood has played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, and Dallas Mavericks, and only the Rockets wanted to bring him back beyond just one season.

Wood's attitude has been a huge part of why he's been unable to find a permanent landing spot. Former Rockets coach Stephen Silas, who coached Wood in both Charlotte and Houston, explained why this has been the case.

"It was the maturity, it was the attention to detail, it was the listening part that he didn't really have and that's kind of why he bounced around until he got to us."

Wood once refused to enter into a game with the Rockets, which led to a one-game suspension. The crazy part is that Wood missed the team's COVID testing window and was relegated to the bench as a result. But when he was told to enter the game, he had the audacity to refuse to do so.

On the court, although Wood has put up good numbers, it's been difficult to get him to buy in to what his teams have needed from him. For example, although Wood is great in the pick-and-roll, he had zero interest in running the pick-and-roll with the Rockets.

A journeyman player who has been trying to land a major payday should be willing to do whatever is asked of him on the court. At least one would expect that.

The maturity concerns are valid, as is the poor attitude. Which is why Wood, who is a stretch big that is capable of doing essentially anything offensively (besides shoot free throws), finds himself on the free agent market still.