Report: Rockets big man Christian Wood drawing trade interest

Kelly Iko of The Athletic notes that Wood is entering the final year of his three-year, $41 million contract that he signed in 2020 and, because the Rockets were stocked with a star duo of James Harden and Westbrook at the time, "the circumstances — and the rationale — behind (Wood's deal) were a bit different back then."

"That combination was supposed to unlock a new stratosphere for the Rockets offensively they hadn’t been privy to, having only used traditional rim-running bigs like Dwight Howard and Clint Capela during that era. As fate would have it, Harden’s time in Houston was coming to a close, and his eventual departure -- along with the Westbrook for John Wall swap -- meant Wood’s status suddenly was less of a running mate and more of a leading candidate," Iko wrote. "Describing that transition as awkward at best, given the timing and abrupt arrival of the Rockets’ forced rebuild, brings us to where we are today, unsure of the next steps for Wood and Houston."

Iko calls Wood, "without a doubt" the "most polarizing figure on the roster", pointing out he’s only played in 222 games — started 122 of them — which doesn't even equal two full seasons.

Houston, meanwhile, currently holds the No. 3 selection in June's NBA Draft, and if they decide not to make a trade with it, could pick whoever is left of the Chet Holmgren/Jabari Smith/Paulo Banchero trio. All three prospects notably play in the frontcourt, which would make Wood's future with the Rockets more cloudy.