The Detroit Pistons Would Be Foolish To Cut Christian Wood

I could have said it a nicer way, but it wouldn’t have been as accurate. The Detroit Pistons have acquired a lot of smart pieces to round out the end of their bench this offseason, but they also may have bitten off more than they can chew.

The Detroit Pistons have (15) roster spots, (14) guaranteed contracts, and (2) players on non-guaranteed contracts that are better than at least one of those guaranteed contracts. I’ve been preaching all summer Christian Wood was a steal on the waiver wire and would make the roster, and I’m still saying that with the numbers against him.

Christian Wood and Joe Johnson should both make the team, but they are the (2) with non-guaranteed contracts, while G-League level talent like Khyri Thomas has a guaranteed contract, hindsight is 20/20  I guess.

This isn’t the biggest deal in the world. We are talking about bench talent for the Detroit Pistons. My biggest problem is the most talented on the bubble, Wood, who also has the most positional value, is the one being reported as the odd man out. I don’t see it happening that way.

This is by no way because of a preseason game, but in the Detroit Pistons season opener, he had 19 points in as many minutes with 8 rebounds, a line very similar to his last short stint with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Last season when finally given starter minutes (23.6) with the Pelicans,  Wood averaged 16.9 PTS, 7.9 REB, 1.3 BLK, and 0.9 STL, per Basketball-Reference.com. It’s true he didn’t put up those kinds of numbers with previous teams, but that’s because he also only played on average 8.3 minutes per game in his NBA career before New Orleans. I wouldn’t look to when he barely played; I would look to his per 36 stats, which in ’18-’19 looked like: 24.7 PTS, 11.9 REB, 1.4 BLK & 1.0 STL.

Christian Wood also provides the most positional value. Without Wood, to put it frankly, there is no backup center. They have a couple of guys in Markieff Morris and Thon Maker who can ‘fake it’ against certain lineups, but there is no other true center on this roster.

According to FoxSports.com, Andre Drummond committed the 9th most personal fouls in the NBA. Wood also provides positional value in helping the Pistons facilitate an Andre Drummond trade as someone who could step in and not embarrass a proud franchise.

So how do the Pistons keep Wood? There are a few options.

Find A Trade Partner

Langston Galloway is the obvious answer here as he is on an expiring contract making 7.0M and has the most equity within the league. Don’t rule out a surprise here, though, especially with one of their younger players like Svi, Thon, or Khyri. Really anything lateral will do to make room, the Pistons don’t have to make out like a bandit here.

Cut Joe Johnson

Sorry Joe, though I bet at the beginning of the season you will/would have rained 3’s in downtown Detroit as you might be able to run the floor in October, I’m not buying we’ll be seeing the same legs in March.

I’m also not convinced he’ll be able to stay in front of a lot of guards or forwards in the NBA. I know there is a lot of momentum for Johnson to make the roster, and I believe the Pistons will do everything they can to make that happen. But this feels like their best fall back option if they can’t find a trade partner. JJ’s guaranteed money starts to kick in on October 21st.

Cut A Guaranteed Contract

This is my preferred option but cutting a guaranteed contract, but that would mean the Detroit Pistons would go into the luxury tax. This also means this is very unlikely… but I’m keeping all hope alive.

The obvious cut here would be Khyri Thomas, as I don’t even see how Thomas even makes the floor this season. Per BasketballReference.com, Khyri Thomas shot .28% from three last season. It’s not a big sample size, but he also only shot 38% from three in Summer League this season, 6th best on the team, along with a 36% from the field, 12th out of the16. Contrary to what I’ve heard, Thomas did not play good summer league 2019. Cya!

Just Find A Way

I don’t care how it’s done, within reason, but they need to find a way, and I believe they will. Ed Stefanski has had a very smart offseason with the bottom of the roster, no need to stop being smart before the final spot.