Top Lakers free-agent target eyeing Heat

As Buha notes, Wood becoming a member of the Heat is probably going contingent on what frontcourt gamers are concerned in a possible commerce for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. 

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported final month that the Blazers are anticipated to buy heart Jusuf Nurkic in commerce packages centered round Lillard. If Nurkic and the $54.3M remaining on his contract head to South Beach, a Wood signing turns into extremely inconceivable. However, if Nurkic isn’t a part of the deal, Wood would pose as a viable fallback choice to compete for minutes in Miami’s frontcourt – particularly if the group elements with Nikola Jović in a Lillard commerce. 

Veteran Kevin Love, who averaged 6.9 factors in 20 playoff video games this previous season, is at present penciled in because the Heat’s beginning energy ahead whereas Thomas Bryant, who the group inked to a two-year, $5.4 million contract in July, is predicted to function Bam Adebayo’s main backup at heart. 

As for Wood, the once-undrafted free agent has confirmed himself as an above-average scoring choice over his profession, averaging 18.5 ppg because the begin of the 2020-21 season. 

His shortcomings defensively and rumored character issues have led to Wood bouncing across the league, now searching for to hitch his eighth group in as a few years. Nonetheless, the Heat are already sound defensively, posting a top-10 defensive ranking final season (112.8). It’s on the offensive finish that they might use a lift. In 2022-23, Miami completed dead-last in scoring offense, averaging 109.5 ppg. 

Adding a mixture of Lillard and Wood to their lineup would absolutely improve Miami’s scoring output transferring ahead.