As he approaches his second season with the Rockets, which he hopes is happier than the first, Christian Wood said he wanted to be at the heart of the Texas franchise.
In less than a year, Christian Wood has gone through all the emotions with the Rockets. With a new contract of $ 41 million over three years, through a "sign-and-trade", the strong winger joined James Harden, Russell Westbrook, PJ Tucker or Eric Gordon, to play the title.
"When I came here, I didn't really expect to be part of a reconstruction project," the 26-year-old confirmed for the Houston Chronicle. “At the time, I thought I was playing with James Harden. I knew he was leaving, but Rafael Stone was telling me he wasn't planning on doing anything until the trade deadline. Except James played his game well and it got out of hand. "
In December 2020, a few days after the arrival of Christian Wood, Rockets GM Rafael Stone was already sending Russell Westbrook to Washington in exchange for John Wall. Before he did the same with James Harden, meanwhile transferred to the Nets in January 2021, after two weeks of competition. Leaving the former interior of the Pistons to revise its collective ambitions downwards, within a Houston team admittedly weakened, but still in balance (11 wins - 10 losses), in early February 2021. "Even without James Harden I still expected us to go to the playoffs,But transfers have taken place, players have been injured and we have rebuilt ourselves ..."
While in the race for the MIP trophy of the year, or even the All-Star Game, Christian Wood actually injured his right ankle on February 4, then missing about 20 games. An injury that precipitated the downfall of the Rockets, as they went on to lose twenty in a row, to finally settle in the depths of the Western Conference.
At ease with the Rockets and adopted by Houston, within the very first franchise with which he will play more than a season, Christian Wood clearly intends to be part of the base men of the group of Stephen Silas, while he will be at the end of the contract in the summer of 2023 (with the possibility of breaking the bank…).
“I told Rafael Stone and Stephen Silas that I am okay with whatever they try to put in place, because I want to stay here for the long haul,”
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