05-13-2023, 04:17 PM
(05-13-2023, 04:07 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I can't believe I'm going to admit to this, but a similar thought actually crossed my mind. Moving on from THJ and Maxi leaves the bench pretty thin. I started putting together a top 9/10. Starters were Ayton/Luka/Green/Bullock/Kyrie. That leaves Hardy, presumably a resigned Powell and.....
Pretty quick you get to the McGee/Morris/Bertans/Holiday types (maybe this is why Morris is so confident of his return). I don't see Wood starting (heck, I don't see him returning at all), but his ability to fill a pretty gaping hole did cross my mind. Of course, he'd have to accept the role I thought he was good for all along (bigger version of Lou Williams). There is definitely a hole to be filled if Maxi and THJ move on and Wood would probably be better than what you get with the TP MLE.
Seems like it hinges on:
1. His willingness to accept a sub-MLE contract, and
2. His willingness to accept a bench role with limited minutes
He might not have any choice on the contract, if there aren't any other higher offers.
On the role... perhaps he's really stuck on either starting or starters' minutes. So would he take less money to achieve that? $5m instead of $7m? Or $8m instead of $11?
Some NBA players seem to have an ego that attaches tremendous importance to "starting". Others care a lot about total minutes, or perhaps ending games. Some just want the team to win, and don't seem to care how they're utilized.
Not sure how Wood sees himself here.