What the Detroit Pistons need to do with Christian Wood in free agency
By Matthew Way
Christian Wood’s offensive repertoire was on full display in 2019-20.
It all started, as it often does in 2020, from beyond the arc. The talented big man displayed nice touch from three, shooting 38.6 percent from deep on nearly four attempts per 36 minutes. And proving himself as a viable shooter opened up every other part of his game.
After proving he can make a three early against the Philadelphia 76ers, the defense closed out too hard on Wood after an inbound pass. And despite having little room to operate, his quickness and the off-balance defense earned him a dunk:
Against the Washington Wizards, Wood initially served as a floor spacer in the right corner. Once the ball reached his hands and his defender was forced to recover because of his shooting threat, Wood again got just enough leverage on the baseline and used his immense strength for one of many thundering dunks:
The ability to drive and score from the perimeter was a huge addition to Wood’s game and it was on full display all season long. Drives ending with layups, dunks, and float shots accounted for 71 of his attempts this year, a number that seemed unthinkable at the season’s outset. And Wood converted over 57 percent of those chances.
Around the rim, Wood has been the formidable presence he’s always been believed to be. While that may not be surprising, it’s encouraging to see in something more than limited minutes. His athleticism has never been in doubt, but his ability to overpower even the strongest players in the league has been incredibly impressive:
Wood’s versatile, efficient offensive game was a revelation for the Pistons this year. It was a bright spot in an overwhelmingly bleak season. And now it’s created a big dilemma on how to approach his free agency.