Seemingly everyone around the NBA is waiting for the Portland Trail Blazers to trade Damian Lillard, and Lillard has made it clear he only wants to go to the Miami Heat.
There is another talented player available in big man Christian Wood, who is a free agent after one season with the Dallas Mavericks.
There has been speculation over where Wood may sign, and one team that he has been linked to is the Los Angeles Lakers.
But Jovan Buha, who covers the Lakers for The Athletic, says Wood is truly interested in joining the Heat, pending a Lillard trade.
“Christian Wood, from my understanding, is interested in a potential role in Miami—depending on what players are involved in that [Dame] trade. If they add Nurkić I think that frontcourt is set. If they don't & get rid of Jović, can Wood come in & outplay Love & Bryant”@jovanbuha pic.twitter.com/tMBvB2Hhpe
— Dru (@dru_star) August 11, 2023
Buha also mentioned the Chicago Bulls as a dark-horse option, but it looks like Miami is where Wood prefers to go.
The journalist said that it will all depend on which players are involved in a potential Lillard trade.
If the Heat somehow also land center Jusuf Nurkic, Wood may not want to join them as they won’t have a big need for a player of his caliber.
But if the Heat don’t get Nurkic, and they also have to give up big man Nikola Jovic, that could end up being the impetus for Wood signing with them.
The 6-foot-9 Wood is a proven scorer and a good 3-point shooter, but he has been criticized for being a weak defender and having an outsized ego.
The Heat’s championship-caliber culture doesn’t tolerate malcontents, so it would be interesting to see how Wood would fit in on a team that prides itself on accountability and sacrifice.
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