UPDATE: Christian Wood to Houston Rockets in $41 million deal

The Detroit Pistons might have prioritized re-signing Christian Wood, but for Wood the chance to play for a winning team in the prime of his career was more important than any additional money the Pistons could offer him.

Wood is reportedly moving onto the Rockets in a three-year $41 million deal that will turn into a sign-and-trade with the Pistons involving Trevor Ariza’s contract, accorindg to reports.

If Wood is, indeed, gone, some fans are looking at it like the Pistons chose Plumlee over Wood. In fact, it’s much more likely that Wood could have made it clear to the Pistons he was uninterested in joining the rebuild and the Pistons moved on accordingly.

Alternatively, the Pistons might have decided if they needed to invest major dollars into a high-priced forward, they’d rather invest in Jerami Grant, who the Pistons signed to a three-year, $60 million deal.

Grant is the better defender, but Wood is not only cheaper but the talent difference is extremely close. I’m thinking I’d rather have Wood, all things being equal.

For Wood, however, it’s a chance to win, which is not really on the table In Detroit. They are rebuilding, and are likely to get even worse as most expect them to try and find a taker for veterans Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin as soon as a reasonable deal emerges.

Wood has never secured a major NBA contract before, but perhaps there are more important things than money. He has talked about winning and wanting to compete since the moment the season ended for Detroit. Now he gets that chance in Houston.