Rating the likelihood of Bulls rumors: Christian Wood
On paper, Christian Wood would fill a role very similar to Sabonis on the Bulls. He’d be a strong interior presence on the offensive glass and provide some much-needed rebounding for a team that likes to play small and struggles on the glass.
Wood sets himself apart from Sabonis in that he is more willing to shoot threes, should not require as many assets to acquire, and most importantly is on a contract that is approximately 25 percent cheaper and expires after next season. This last part is crucial if the Bulls intend to have enough money to construct a competitive squad following LaVine’s inevitable max contract extension.
Last season Wood averaged 21 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while also shooting 37.4 percent on 3-point attempts. His offensive arsenal would significantly bolster an already dangerous Bulls offense that ranks 7th in the NBA in net rating.
Unfortunately, a big roadblock to overcome towards negotiations for Wood would be Chicago’s presumed offer on the table. The Bulls would be unlikely to offer Patrick Williams for Wood, which leaves Coby White as the team’s next most valuable trade asset.
With Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green appearing to be the backcourt of the future in Houston, it’s unlikely they’d want to clog up their minutes at guard with the addition of Coby. Instead, they’d likely push for Williams to pair their guard duo with a forward, which would stall any trade discussions permanently.