THE CRUCIFIX: Cato: Wood isn't thrilled w/ his role...Will depart in the summer

[KillerLeft]

He´s neither and that´s the problem. On offense you want him to play center because that unleashes his full potential. He can face up and take slower guys of the dribble. He can roll and pop. If needed he can post up.
But on defense he really doesn´t have a position in the modern NBA. Not a traditional center. No rim protection and no boxouts. Bad pick and roll defense. But moving him to the perimeter isn´t possible because he cannot stay in front of guards/wings. Not suited for the McGee role. Also not able to play a Powell/Kleber-like role.

Undeniable a really talented scorer but it´s difficult to find a role for him.

I agree with this, kind of. Would push back on the "traditional center" because to me, nowadays, that's just a way of saying "bad player." But I know you're not guilty of thinking the way most people do when they use that term...I just think you're in a slightly different spot than me on that spectrum. 

As for the rest...the logic with Wood for me looks like this:

Wood at Forward: instincts aren't right on either end, severely lacking in foot speed on defense, can't really box out quicker players, so rebounding (which can be a strength of his) becomes even worse as a result of him playing, offensive skill seems forced, out of place and not at all to his strengths or the team's. 

Wood at Center: instincts much more natural, even if not always to winning effect. Defense is still a problem but no more so than at forward, and at least there's hope for improvement because it's ALL mental at the 5. His speed, quickness and size are more than sufficient to play defense that position (and NOT sufficient to defend at forward). Offensively, he's "special" at that position when going well, and if/when he becomes consistent, both individually and when it comes to operating within the scheme, I'd say he might be a top 5 offensive center in the league. 

To me, this shouldn't even be a conversation. He flatly does NOT have potential to be a difference maker at forward. He'll always be overmatched, athletically.