Previous Scouting Reports:
With the majority of the team headed for the free agency market, it is tough to pick out a position on need for the Portland Trail Blazers. So after need, it all boils down to talent and fit.
As the Blazers have been bringing in prospects for workouts, some have been better fits for this franchise than others. Last week when the team brought in UNLV forward Christian Wood, it was obvious he fit the mold of past Blazer draft picks. The big question remains is how Wood will develop into an NBA player.
When Wood came to Portland for his workout, he was asked what he needs to work on to fit into the NBA. He said, “The NBA is different. There’s a lot of physicality in the league. Guys are stronger, like LaMarcus Aldridge, who’s a good post player. Just getting stronger. That’s about it. That’s where I think I need to develop.”
Time will tell how Wood can develop his strength. For now, check out my scouting report on one of the prospects that Portland is seriously looking for leading up to the NBA Draft.
Scouting Report: Christian Wood
Hometown: Palmdale, CA.
Height: 6’10.5” (w/ shoes).
Weight: 216 pounds.
Noted Measurables: 7’3.25” wingspan, 9’3.5” standing reach (all measurements from the 2015 NBA Combine).
School: University of Nevada – Las Vegas (2 seasons).
Experience: 63 games, 2 years in college (2015 First-Team All-Mountain West).
Age: 19 (September 27, 1995).
College Statistics: 10.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, 1.9 blocks per game, 48% field goal percentage, 26% 3-point percentage.
Scouting Report: Prototypical stretch-4 prospect. Very confident offensively. Strong face up game. Shoots too many 3-pointers, only a 26% 3-point shooter. Poor shot selection at times. Shows immaturity at times on the court. Can develop more consistent shooting. Needs to LIVE in the weight room this summer. Was 15 pounds heavier at the combine and still shy of 220. To be competitive at his position, needs to put on 20+ pounds of muscle. Has above average defensive instincts. Long enough to effect shots at the rim regularly. Good shot blocker. Decent perimeter defender for his size. Can disappear for stretches of games. Needs to develop as a rebounder and not camp on the 3-point line as an almost 7-footer. Work ethic will determine how quickly Wood will find his place in the NBA. Needs to increase strength, develop a better post-game, and become a better rebounder to find consistent minutes in the NBA.
Highlights:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahvYnWCcFCs] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL5VOtcA8ws]NBA Comparison: Channing Frye – When Wood was in Portland, he said that he models his game after two guys in the NBA, LaMarcus Aldridge and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Those are two high marks to his. Wood has the build to be compared to Antetokounmpo but doesn’t have the handle or instincts to be compared to him. Aldridge is the best power forward in the league, and despite coming into the league with similar size and stats as Wood, that comparison is still extremely premature. Wood’s game relates to Frye in that he is a slender, long player that is mostly an offensive player. Frye has bulked up and developed other aspects to his game. Coming out of the University of Arizona, Frye shot 26% from beyond the arc, same as Wood. Frye has developed that shot to the point that he is a reliable weapon from beyond the arc, shooting 39% over the course of his career and 44% in the 2009-2010 season. I am not saying that Frye is the ceiling for Wood, but he would be well served to develop into a similar player. Wood is seen by many as a boom-or-bust prospect. If he booms, he could move towards the Aldridge comparison that he hopes for; if he busts, he could flame out in a couple years. Time will tell.
Where he would fit in Portland: This is one of the hardest things to feel out. This Blazer team could be completely different next year, or they could bring back the same roster. The thing that I am not sure Portland is ready for is another project big man. Three years ago, the Blazers drafted a tall, thin big man in the Draft Lottery. The fan base was incredibly inpatient with Meyers Leonard for the first two years of his career. This past season, he started to break through and earn the respect of the city and league. Nine years before that, Aldridge came in as a tall, thin power forward. The Blazer have hit on these two big man in the past decade but are they ready for another project? There are at least 2 years before Wood can contribute to a contender like the Blazers. Now, if the Blazers lose Aldridge this summer and reenter a rebuild mode, Wood would be a good value in the late stages of the first round.
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