NBA Trade Deadline: 15 best NBA players who could be available

5. Christian Wood — Houston Rockets

Eric Gordon might be the most logical trade asset on the Houston Rockets, but Christian Wood is the best. When he signed a deal with the Rockets back in 2020, just about everyone knew the Rockets got themselves a budding star. His numbers have slipped this season, but the Rockets are a mess. It’s not his fault there’s nothing to play with for him this season. He’s facing a double team basically on every possession.

It’s clear that Wood is someone who needs a change of scenery. Who knows what the Rockets promised him when they signed him, but it was likely not this. If he gets on a team that motivates him again, which might be just about anyone, then he will see his numbers rise again. The Rockets could still get some good assets in a Wood trade despite his less than stellar season.

Wood is one of the players who could go anywhere. He has another year on his contract, so he could go to a team that isn’t a contender. Maybe the Rockets are looking to trade young assets. A team like the Kings makes sense, but a team that is in contention makes sense, as well.

This trade scenario is all about finding the right fit. Wood might be considered really high in terms of ranking, but he has a star quality that is hard to find. He’s also just 26 years old. He has a long career ahead of him, so whichever team gets him might get a decade’s worth of production from this deal if the cards are played right.