Just when you thought the Lakers were done making trades this offseason, the Dallas Mavericks raised the possibility that they might be willing to make Christian Wood available in a sign-and-trade for the right player.
This news immediately raised the possibility of the Dallas Mavericks signing-and-trading stretch forward/center Christian Wood for the Los Angeles Lakers ace defensive forward and fan favorite Jarred Vanderbilt. The 27-year old 6′ 9,” 214 lb Wood is the perfect stretch four/five the Lakers need to create space and driving lanes for superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to attack the paint and get to the rim for easy baskets.
While trading Vanderbilt would be a tough pill to swallow, Wood is a greater overall talent and better fit for what LeBron James and Anthony Davis need right now, which is a modern center who can stretch the floor. Under the new CBA rules for team’s under the hard cap, the Lakers could accept a 3-year sign-and-trade contract for as much as $9.6 million per year giving them Wood’s Bird rights so they could go over the cap to re-sign him.
The Lakers should trade for Christian Wood to upgrade the team’s 3-point shooting, add a clutch scorer to close games, increase team’s positional size advantage, secure Wood’s Bird rights, and open a roster spot for Biyombo.
1. Upgrade Team’s 3-Point Shooting
Christian Wood is exactly the kind of elite shooter with 3-point gravity to keep defenders attached and open up floor space and driving lanes for Lakers’ superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis to get to the rim.
During the 2022–23 season, the Los Angeles Lakers 31.2 3-point attempts per game ranked 27th, their 10.8 3-point shots made per game ranked 24th, and their 34.6% 3-point completion percentage ranked 25th in the league. During the playoffs, the Lakers 33.5 3-point attempts per game ranked 14th out of 16 teams, their 10.1 3-point shots made per game ranked 13th, and their 33.5% 3-point completion percentage ranked 11th in the league.
In last four seasons, Wood has made 37.6%, 39.0%, and 37.4%, and 38.6% from deep. During those 4 years, he made 367 out of 961 3-point attempts for a completion percentage of 38.2% on 4.0 3-point attempts per game. During his last three years, Vanderbilt averaged 32.2%, 14.3%, and 20% from deep. During those 3 years, he made 32 out of 109 3-point attempts for a completion percentage of 29.4% on 0.5 3-point attempts per game.
One of advantages of trading Vanderbilt for Wood is it would dramatically improve the Lakers 3-point shooting volume and percentage and create better spacing for superstars James and Davis to attack the paint and rim.
2. Adds Clutch Scorer To Close Games
One can question Wood’s defensive inconsistencies and issues but, with his size and athleticism, he was the NBA’s most efficient three-level scorers in the league, able to score efficiently from deep, midrange, or at the rim.
Over the last four years, Wood averaged 16.6, 17.9, 21.0, 13.1 points in 25.9, 30.8, 32.3, 21.4 minutes per game while shooting 51.5%, 50.1%, 51.4%, 56.7% from the field and 37.6%, 39.0%, 37.4%, 38.6% on 3-point shots.
Wood is a proven three-level scorer who can efficiently shoot the three ball, pull up for a midrange jumper, or attack the rim with vicious dunks. He would give the Lakers a great third option to close games in the clutch.
One of the Lakers biggest weaknesses was not having an elite offensive scorer whom they could give the ball to get a shot to close out games. Christian Wood would give the Lakers a clutch scorer to close out games. The Lakers desperately need a player like DeRozan, Bogdanovic, or Wood who can get to his spot and get a high quality shot whenever he wants. Watch the above video and you can see Wood’s upside is elite starter.
Unlike featuring LeBron who’s slowing down or AD who needs somebody to get him the ball, the Lakers can just give the ball to Wood and trust him to go one-on-one and get a great shot regardless who’s defending him.
3. Increases Positional Size Advantage
One of the advantages of the Lakers trading for Christian Wood is he gives them a perfect stretch four or five to play alongside Anthony Davis in a two-big lineup like the Lakers ran to win the 2020 championship in the bubble.
By starting the 6′ 9″ Christian Wood next to the 6′ 11″ Anthony Davis and 6′ 9″ LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers immediately become a bigger and better team at both ends of the court, dominating the boards and paint. During the last four four years, Christian averaged 7.3, 10.1, 9.6, and 6.3 rebounds per game, 1.1, 1.0, 1.2, and 0.9 blocks per game, and 0.4, 0.8, 0.8, and 0.5 steals per game in 25.9, 30.8, 32.3, and 21.4 minutes per game.
While there have been troubling incidents in the past, the Lakers coaching staff knows how to reach players and get the best out of them. Were a sign-and-trade to happen, there’d definitely be direct discussions with Wood. There’s always the risk that the player is just incorrigible and even Darvin Ham cannot reach him but the reward is essentially the opportunity to trade for a lottery level talent who could be a long-time star for the team.
Trading for Christian Wood would give the Lakers positional size advantage in the front court while at the same time improving the teams floor spacing and 3-point shooting and unleashing even more paint and rim dominance.
4. Secures Christian Wood’s Bird Rights
While it’s difficult to trade a fan favorite who was at the heart of the team making the conference finals after starting 2–10, securing Christian Wood’s Bird rights so they could keep him long term is worth Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Lakers’ front office and coaching staff have great confidence in their judgement and ability to transform talented young players who’ve struggled with other teams and help them rehabilitate their careers like Malik Monk. Trading for Christian Wood instead of signing him for the minimum as a free agent would give the Lakers his Bird rights, which would enable them to go over the cap to re-sign him and prevent losing him like Malik Monk.
Christian Wood is in many ways the perfect third big for the Lakers as he can play the four or five, has the ability to space the floor with his 3-point shooting, and can protect the rim with his 6′ 9″ height and 7′ 3″ wingspan. While trading for Christian Wood will cost Vando and bring risks due to previous behavior issues, the upside of being able to acquire a potential second level star player is too great an opportunity for the Lakers to pass.
If the Lakers believe they can transform Christian Wood into a valuable stretch four/five, then it makes sense to trade Jarred Vanderbilt for him so that L.A. has his Bird rights and can go over the cap to re-sign him.
5. Opens Roster Spot for Biyombo
With the free agent signing of 6′ 8″ small forward Taurean Prince, the Los Angeles Lakers finally have a legitimate 3&D wing who can shoot over 40% from deep and defend the bigger wing scorers Vando would usually guard.
In addition to Prince, the Lakers also re-signed Rui Hachimura and signed Cam Reddish, both of whom they’re high on offensively and defensively. Trading Vanderbilt should eliminate a likely minutes jam up at the three. Trading for Wood helps balance the roster and opens up a roster spot for Bismack Biyombo, who would give the Lakers an experienced defensive center to expand and balance the team’s skill sets at the center position.
At 27-years old, the opportunity for the Lakers to trade Jarred Vanderbilt for a signed-and-traded Christian Wood is almost too good to be true. That it helps balance the roster and opens a roster spot for Bismack is a plus. Realistically, this is the kind of move the Lakers would have to wait until the trade deadline to pull off. It’s exactly the kind of low risk, sky-high value opportunity Rob Pelinka should take full and immediate advantage of.
Trading a one-dimensional small forward in Jarred Vanderbilt for a versatile modern center in Christian Wood would enable the Lakers to sign Bismack Biyombo as their third center while leaving one roster spot open.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1681007582323052544
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I didn’t think we were in the business of trading good for bad? Hard pass, terrible trade on every front. I’m starting to think you’re a Mavs fan with all these ludicrous trades that make us worse and Dallas better. Dallas wants nothing to do with Wood, likely considers his mere presence as toxic…and you want to trade one of the guys who was key in us even making it to the playin? Is this a master class in terrible ideas? A TED Talk on how to destroy momentum? This is, by far, the worst idea posted here since yesterday.
Wood for the vet minimum or he can find another door to grovel at and beg for a bone. He’s just not that important or good. You don’t get moved from 7 teams in 7 years with his skill set (but not impact on winning…) for no reason. The dude is a joke player who puts up decent numbers on bad teams that go nowhere. Have you really even watched him play, other than in Laker games?
Not what the team needs and it won’t matter if he shoots 50% from three. Nobody is leaving the paint against the Lakers with LeBron and AD on the roster. It really is that simple because a 35-40% three point shot is vastly better than AD or LeBron at the rim in terms of shots the defense wants to give up. This is why three point marks-people come here to die. It’s really not a difficult notion to grasp…and yet…
It’s astounding to me that, within a matter of days, you’ve gone from proclaiming Rob a genius for assembling this roster to trading pretty much the entire roster he assembled, without even having seen a louse preseason game. Usually for unattainable talents.
Wake me up when training camp starts, this is just silly stuff.
It’s funny how click bait works. Stein said the Lakers were probably not open to trading for Wood. He mentioned that Vando would be the only guy they could trade. Suddenly we are interested in trading Vando for Wood, which is not what Stein said. I think the Lakers maybe interested in signing Wood for the minimum but there is zero indication that they have interest beyond that. One wonders if Wood could get on the court if he defends like he has. It’s not like Wood is a top notch volume 3 point shooter. He has never even averaged 2 makes a game. I was encouraged by Rui’s play and apparently so we’re the Lakers judging by his contract. I see no reason to believe that he can’t match Woods shooting plus he successfully defended 2 through 5 in the playoffs. What has Wood done in the playoffs? Rui D included banging with the Joker, something Wood at 214 pound would have trouble doing. We also signed Prince who is every bit as good at shooting the 3 as wood plus, he can defend. Then there is Vando. How many 6’ 9” guys can defend Ja. Vando did. He was assigned to the most dangerous perimeter player every game. While Prince is a good defender, he’s not as versatile as Vando. Now last year was the first year he took any meaningful amount of 3 point shots. And he shot 32% I see no reason that can’t increase. I think this is all mute because Vando is a Ham guy. You add Wood to the line up and you have hurt what got us that far in the playoffs. Add Wood and now you have to move LeBron to the 3, where he’s not been good. Add Dlo to the equation and now the only defenders starting are AD and Austin. Even if we do end up signing Wood, I suspect he will come off the bench.
It was really Sam Quinn of CBS Sports who made the link and suggested while not endorsing the Vando for Wood trade. He also said he did not think the Lakers valued Wood enough to trade Vando.
Vando only has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a bigger extension. Quinn pointed out we do have too many wings and trading Vando would open up minutes for Prince, Hachimura, and Reddish.
And the Lakers need a stretch 4/5 and Wood is nothing but consistent in shooting over 50% from the field and 37% from deep. He is a legit 3-level scorer who can splash an open three or throw down a ferocious dunk.
Lakers should work out S&T with Dallas for him, Even giving up Vando, it’s still low risk, mega reward opportunity. Wood lets Lakers go to two-bigs model to start and play small ball on steroids to close games.
CHRISTIAN WOOD, the over-looked legend 7 other teams dumped faster than bad lamb shanks from a meat wheel, whose past issues can be mitigated by our coaching staff because guys like Jason Kidd, Jared Dudley, Stephen Silas, Alvin Gentry , and NBA championship winning coach Mike Budenholzer…just…didn’t…see the diamond in the rough! Trade the farm, uplift the Mavs who are on the verge of imploding and get him here STAT!!!!!!
You know what. I’m not even going to respond to your childish insults and taunts. At this point, I even question whether I want to continue to keep this blog open.
I just find all of this utterly absurd. We haven’t even seen the team play and you’re regularly posting articles about trades that can’t happen for months. Not even bothering to theorize about fit or roster cohesion or anything regarding the guys actually on the team right now. Just how fast can we ship ’em right back out. I honestly do not get that type of fandom, being more of a fan of a trade than of players because as soon a we acquire a player they go on the trading block in a day or two. If not faster.
I’m not much of a D-Lo fan, for example, but I would really like to see him work out here. Not because it ups his trade value but because that means the team is working. For me at least there is an element of humanity and the belief that if sport somehow mirrors life in any way then a team can overcome an individual’s weaknesses. That a guy like Vando who can’t shot the three well still can be a huge part of a winning culture, like Udonis Haslem but much younger and can actually play. That just looking at stats and seeing a small chance for improvement…but no guarantee of it…isn’t a good reason to trade someone.
That’s just me, though. I get that trades are exciting to some people. Generally, that’s not the case for myself. However, when you’re advocating trading the three point shooting version of Kwame Brown for JV I’m going to ridicule it…because the premise in and of itself is ridiculous, in my opinion. If you advocated trading Jarred Vanderbilt as part of a deal for Lauri Markakken or someone actually good at basketball I might feel differently.
That’s not the case here. Christian Wood is hotter garbage than Miles Bridges, who signed with the Hornets today. That’s not my opinion, that’s the opinion of every GM in the Association who has had a chance to acquire his talents and hard-passed for anything higher than the vet minimum. I get Wood waiting and hoping for some kind of offer beyond the vet minimum, it must be a hard time for a player entering their prime and believing they have some unique skill set only to find the phone is quiet and your agent has no good news.
I also get the Mavs hoping to recoup something from their awful investment of a first round draft pick. That only makes sense for them and of course they’d love to be a part of a sign and trade. it means they’re at least getting something and they need to show Luka they’re not spinning their wheels in the mud (which I think they are).
But I do not get why the Lakers should overpay or why anyone who watched the team would think it’s a good idea. Don’t see the logic or the sense in it. We’re talking about the polar opposite of the effect Wood has on team culture, tight? Vando came along and we rocketed up the standings…mostly without LeBron…while the Mavs all but benched Wood and sank.
Don’t mean to pile on but this one makes zero sense. Sam Quinn is crazy for even coming up with such a ludicrous notion and if the Lakers actually go through with it I’ll be pissed.
I’ve been seriously thinking of closing down the Lakerholics website. Like everything in life, there comes a time when change is needed.
Much like politics, having intelligent open discussions has become a thing of the past. This used to be the best. Time for something new.
I’m going to take some time off but right now, I think this may be the last month for Lakerholics.com. Have a nice summer, everybody. Go, Lakers!
No, no, no and NO! In
my neck of the woods we get alot of “HAIL” No! Many of us appreciate all you do LT. Let NO-ONE run you out!!
Aloha Tom, the biggest issue is you are relentless. I don’t know if you realize it or not but you posted about trading for Wood 10 times in the last 2 days. And you do not engage in any sort of discussion. I have brought up my concern about LeBron having to defend the wing this late in his career but you don’t address that concern. I have brought up my concern about Wood at 214 pounds defending big centers. You have not addressed that either. You just double down on 37% from 3. I personally am looking forward to watching this team and I don’t think I’m not alone there. But when it’s not a post about Wood, it’s trade ideas for big names that can’t even happen until the end of the year. I do appreciate the blog, but I just would like to see some balance. I would like more talk about what we have and how we can use these pieces. Your article a few days ago about the 5 things was really good and I enjoyed reading it. More content like that would be welcomed by everyone. We all have our opinions and they are all valid but it becomes a little tiresome when you don’t engage those other opinions and just continue to state yours.
Please let us all chill. This is getting out of hand. Let’s adhere to the principles and basics of etiquette and maintain a high standard of decorum for this blog. We must show tact in dealing with one another. That’s what makes this blog a lot more unique and different from many others. Time to bury the hatchet.
https://twitter.com/LakerTom/status/1681075989781291008
It’s amazing how much better Christian Wood has gotten since being unceremoniously dumped by the Mavs.
I know right? It’s not just the Mav’s, the entire league has passed on him.
Right? At 27 he evidently has a massive amount of upside, too! Because all those teams with needs for size and shooting just kinda don’t like him or whatever. Vet min no loss of Phoenix pays him more. I’ll take 3 guys like Vando over Wood all day, every day.
The ironic thing for me is that Tom railed against Thomas Bryant because of his defense. Thomas shot 44% from 3. 12 ppg in 21 minutes, nearly 7 boards a game. He also hustled. Something Woods not known for. But Tom wants Wood even though his defense is at least as bad as Bryant and probably worse for lack of hustle.
I gave up on LakerTom’s logic a very long time ago. It boggles the mind. He’s already shipping guys out we have t seen play…yet Rob is a masterclass genius savant! Just doesn’t compute.
There is a non-hyperbolic way to frame this that are left on the wayside. Phrases like “should this current iteration of the Lakers not work out as hoped” or even better “if for proves awkward or injuries make our need for another high calorie, low efficiency scorer more pressing” and even words like “potential” or “future” or “Just spit-balling because I’m bored, done with my morning constitutional and am addicted to NBA trade machines”. But that’s never how it’s framed. It just makes it funny, to me anyhow.
Exactly. Thomas Bryant? Baaaaaaad fit, terrible and it’s a good thing we traded him since he wouldn’t have had a role against Denver for us (he would have). Oh look! Christian Wood who is even worse!!! Must trade and willing to over pay to boot!