JUNE 24: The trade is now official, the Mavericks announced in the early hours of Friday morning. Wood has officially landed in Dallas in exchange for Marjanovic, Brown, Burke, Chriss, and the draft rights to No. 26 overall pick Wendell Moore. Houston is flipping Moore to Minnesota in a separate deal.
JUNE 15: The Rockets are trading Christian Wood to the Mavericks in exchange for the No. 26 overall pick of the 2022 draft, Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
All five players are on expiring contracts in 2022/23, with the four Mavs players being sent out for salary-matching purposes. Wood will earn $14.3MM next season.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the trade can’t be officially completed until draft night, which is June 23, because the Mavs owe a protected first-round pick to the Knicks in 2023. Six months after the trade is completed, Wood will be eligible to sign a contract extension worth up to $77MM over four years, says Marks.
Burke holds a $3.3MM player option for ’22/23 and will need to exercise the option in order for the trade to work, Marks notes (via Twitter), adding that rosters expanding to 20 in the offseason will allow the Rockets to take back four players in exchange for one. Burke will receive a trade bonus of $247,500 from Dallas as part of the deal, Marks relays in another tweet.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report indicated on Tuesday that the Mavericks were looking to trade their only draft pick, and they found a match in the rebuilding Rockets, who now control three first-round picks: Nos. 3, 17 and 26. The Rockets have multiple options to explore ahead of the draft. If they want to package Nos. 17 and 26 to move up a bit, they likely could.
The 26-year-old Wood is a very solid return for Dallas, even if he comes with some character concerns. The talented big man averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 block in 109 games for Houston the past two seasons, posting a shooting line of .507/.384/.626.
The move definitely comes with risks for the Mavs, because Wood is a subpar defensive player and can be quite inconsistent, especially from an effort standpoint, from game-to-game. However, he’s on an expiring contract, which limits the risk, and is theoretically in a good situation with star Luka Doncic.
Mavs GM Nico Harrison said the team would be looking to acquire a quality big man who could provide rebounding and rim protection after the team lost in the Western Conference Finals. Wood fulfills the first criteria — he’s a good rebounder — but falls a bit short on the second, as he isn’t much of a deterrent at the basket.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link), the Rockets wanted to move Wood in order to create more playing time for Alperen Sengun, who was a rookie this past season, and the No. 3 pick, who will likely be another big man. They’ll get a look at some veterans on expiring deals, but obviously the main appeal was the No. 26 pick and no long-term salary.
Chriss, who will make $2.19MM next season, underwent knee surgery on Wednesday and will be sidelined while rehabbing for the next couple months, sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Not Boban!!! Nooo
May have the opportunity to sign him back if the Rockets release him.
Not allowed. Rockets would have to trade Boban to someone else who cuts him.
Correct, thanks.
Wood the tank
#17 + #26 = #14 (lottery pick)
New league years starts in July. Can’t they sign him after that or is it a calendar year now?
No, wood has to be extension eligible if he’s who you’re talking about
As a starter
Wood hold the nba record at loss column (games)
2020 Pistons 20 wins
2021 Rockets 17 wins (worst record)
2022 Rockets 20 wins (worst record)
Sillivan Trade Grade
Mavs B
Rockets B-
Nuggets trade Green
Nuggets B
Thunder B-
Is this the *official* Sillivan Trade Grade? And it’s not even behind a paywall? #blessed
There is sense there, and findings… and nonsense, and obscurity.
Maddening.
Violates League rules can’t trade consecutive 1st round picks?
The Stepien Rule prevents teams from being without first-round picks in consecutive years.
Doesn’t matter since it’s the draft, they can finish this trade next Thursday because of that
Love it for the Mavs
Mixed feelings about this trade. It’s essentially spare parts and the 26th pick for Wood. Love Boban, but he was buried as the team’s 15th man on the roster. Mavs could regret this if a player surprisingly drops to Houston in the draft, like EJ Liddell or Nikola Jovic.
My guess is that the Mavs want to utilize both Kleber and Wood in the “5 man out offense”, as both bigs can knock down the three. Then, they probably look to sign a matchup center with their exception against traditional teams that may not play every night, ala Bismack Biyombo, JaVale McGee or Hassan Whiteside.
Will be curious to see if the Mavs can find any value for Dwight Powell’s expiring $11M contract and if they decide to hang onto Tim Hardaway Jr. for firepower off the bench.
Kleber’s on the last year of his contract, too, just like Powell and, of course, Wood. Either Maxi or Dwight could get moved, I suppose. One other pus (if Wood’s youth transitions to maturity) is that he’s a few years younger than both of them. Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much if they don’t sign a “matchup center.”
Wood’s value is way lower than i thought, but nice trade for Mavs
Next extension makes his trade value so low … Sockets just got dead money not even a player to swap in a other deal
Time to unleash the sengun in Houston.
Wood is a terrible defender but anything is an upgrade over Dwight Powell. He was unbelievably bad during the playoffs.
Do you think there’s any room for improvement in Wood’s game on the defensive end?
When Carlisle was coaching in Dallas, there were consistently great defenders that the Mavs acquired (ex: Wes Matthews) who took steps backwards under his staff. With Kidd, it has been a complete culture change and an emphasis on defense first. Seems every guy has trended forward on that end. Finney-Smith became elite. Bullock was wonderful on smalls during the playoffs, like Chris Paul. Luka is taking steps in the right direction. So I wonder if Kidd and Sweeney can pull anything more out of Wood defensively. Not holding my breath. Just curious from only being able to see him play a handful of times.
Can fix half on the defensive end
his defensive aptitude gets lost in the muck all the time. He doesn’t have feel to the rim protection.
Having guys that can defend around you helps defensively. Wood has tools defensively, so it depends on what lineups he is used in
I think Wood can be made at least, let’s say, “adequate” on the defensive end. If you can get that, along with focus, you’ll take it plus the other things he gives.
Sure, if played with guys who will do the work. Wood’s not added for defense or steadiness.
Wood will stress Cuban, so I can’t complain.
Couldve just done this:
Mavs get CWood
Rockets get Powell, green, chriss and the first rounder
Giving up boban, brown and burke is not a smart move especially when they were such a big part of the team culture
I’m guessing Rockets wanted to hand Sengun the keys and didn’t want Powell.
All three of those guys were out of the rotation, though. Brown was dreadful. He essentially was a repeat version of Wes Iwundu for the Mavs … neither signing panned out. Burke is a volume scorer, but buried on the bench and wouldn’t classify him as clubhouse glue either. Boban’s a great guy and will have a job in most any organization he’s ever played for once he hangs it up. A truly great human being. I’ll miss him the most.
My assumption is that (1) the Mavs preferred to hang onto Josh Green, who still has untapped upside as a two way player … and (2) Rockets didn’t see any value in Dwight Powell, as they tend to go small and would rather give backup center time to Garuba and company.
Part of the team culture that the NBA repeatedly fined in the playoffs?
If three guys are scoring a combined 472 points for your team (and in the cases of Brown and Burke, shooting poorly and putting up horrid advanced stats), you can sacrifice the team culture a little bit if it means acquiring someone who is actually good at basketball. To your point, though, I think they should have kept Boban for reasons not directly related to basketball.
Agreed but I also think Boban being the Luka whisperer element was more important in the Haralabob/Carlisle era.
Luka by all accounts seems to have a good relationship with Kidd.
Not sure about Brown and Burke important to team culture. Brown’s only been there a year and neither got playoff minutes.
Losing Boban sure, that will make a difference.
So losing Powell and Green is less crucial?— that is arguable. Including on-court, what trades are mostly for… No comparison. Nico did better. There are matchups for Powell.
Mavs fans, get ready for a lot of headaches. He’s very talented but makes a bunch of bone head moves.
Massively inflated stats since he’s been a team tanking for the past few years. However neither team really got anything of much value except Dallas dumping multiple players. Fair trade but doesn’t help either team that much.
Powell averaged 4.9 rebounds a game last year. Wood averaged 10. Helps them tremendously. Wood doesn’t need to be a 20 pt per game guy in Dallas. He just needs to be more than the hole they had at the 5.
He’ll also space the floor more since he can knock down the 3pt. Luka will have more alleys to drive. Powell is just a rim runner.
Nah great move for both squads. Dallas gets more talent and Wood can show his value as a 3-4 option. Houston gets a decent pick
Ya it almost breaks down as a salary dump for a late first.
Dallas wants to run a 5-out, less PnR. Yes being able to do so will make a big difference.
Mavs could hardly do better with a #26 pick, and they got future salary relief.
Kleber can show more helping ability, if he has it. I think he does. It’s his deep shot that is unsteady.
Big effort & intelligence difference between Wood & Powell will challenge Kleber.
With Luka he could shoot 60/40 from the 4/5. If they can land a legit rim protector that can play next to him and bring Brunson, hardaway, dimwiddie back they are going to be a top 3 seed
Sixers shoulda offered #23 , Picked up Green’s option and sent him, Shake and Isiah Joe
Luka will be happy to get a competent big, but Boban was his best friend it seemed like, so I don’t really know how he may feel about that. If H Town buys him out, can Dallas sign him back once he clears waivers?
No, the trading team cannot resign a player they traded away for the entire season.
Luka will be happy to get his idol coming to Dallas in Goran Dragic on a free agent minimum deal. He’s not going to be crying.
That’s where Dragic comes in, who is Lukas best friend.
They shouldn’t allow trades to happen until after the finals.
Why? Saying that, trade isn’t official.
There are only 4 days between a potential game 7 and the draft, how is that enough time to make trades
But Celtics and Warriors haven’t made one. Draft is next Week.
GMs of Finals teams, if they think they need to make moves, already have ideas. They just don’t announce them. And, they let their coaches coach while pondering trades.
This is something I didn’t expect; my trade grades:
Houston:
C-
Christian wood was an asset for them that could have allowed them to get a bigger return from another team, Boban is old and is on a bigger contract, Houston will probably waive or buy out him. Sterling browns last tenure with Houston didn’t end well, and he is relatively overpaid, so I don’t see them keeping him, whether they waive him, trade him, or anything else. Trey Burke is getting a little older, but he could fill the hole left by Dennis Schroder nicely. He’s always been a really good shooter who can help any team off the bench. Marquese Chriss is still pretty good as a big man who can effectively play defense and get rebounds, and could be a keeper in Houston. If I’m not mistaken, he’s already played there too. The 26 pick could get you something, but whatever player you draft there, likely won’t turn out to be as good as Christian Wood.
Dallas Mavericks:
A
Dallas didn’t give up any real assets here, the 26th pick probably wouldn’t have played much next season and Boban is Lukas friend, but other then that, Christian wood is a great stretch 4 who can be a great fit in the starting 5 with Brunson/Dinwiddie at 1, Luka/Bullock at 2, DFS/Josh Green at 3, Kleber/ Bertans at 4, and Wood/Powell at 5. With Hardaway also left to fit in anywhere he is needed. Top 3 seed in the west for sure if wood can prove he wasn’t just good cuz he was the best player on a bad team
Don’t forget Tim Hardaway Jr.
I see the depth chart currently as:
PG: Brunson, Dinwiddie, Ntilikina
SG: Doncic, Hardaway
SF: Bullock, Green
PF: Dodo, Bertans
C: Wood, Kleber, Powell
If they can upgrade Powell/Kleber (both on expiring deals), they’ll do it. Hardaway is a big question mark on how he fits with the team.
Goran Dragic should be a slam dunk for a sign on the veteran’s minimum now, as well. Luka loses a buddy in Boban but gains one of his idol countrymen.
Where’s Dorian Finney-Smith?
Nvm. You have him as a PF
That team is too small for regular use.
DFS & Wood as the bigs, 3 guards, nope.
I think they might trade the #17 and #26 to move up into the lottery. Depending on who they get, it could be a massive win using Wood as the catalyst.
Is this the best the rockets could get for wood? I know they aren’t taking on any contracts past next but this is a super late pick. Would the hornets not trade 15 for wood?
Obviously not. Wood is vastly overrated by fans, as opposed to actual teams. He scores points (when he plays) because he’s on an awful team and someone has to shoot when they’re 20 pts down and the opposition doesn’t care. Plays no defense, has a questionable attitude, and plays small for his size.
He barely became decent 2 years ago.
I think teams have just started to value 1sts a lot more. Even more highly prized guys like Jerami Grant stayed put at the deadline because allegedly the price was two 1sts
Getting a late 1st for Wood is still probably a little low, but he’s also an expiring contract as well. If they waited to the deadline I doubt they’d get more than a pair of 2nds for him
Steal for Mavs
Great move by DAL. They needed a big that can score, but didn’t appear to have the assets to get one. Getting Wood for just #26 and some expiring deals of non-rotation guys sets them up nicely.
Mavs need rebound and D
Great move for both teams.
Great move for the Mavs. Some interesting pieces and players there.
Personally I don’t see how it all plugs together and works in a world where they make the final or win a chip.
Dinwiddie Brunson Doncic (3 point guards)
Hardaway Bullock Finney-Smith (underrated two way wings)
Kleber and Wood (big men that can shoot)
Just can’t see how it all works but I’ll sit back and happily be surprised and enjoy watching them.
Not really. Mavs actually were in an excellent position this off season with all those expiring contracts and their superstar locked up. They just spent most of that expiring contract value on an overrated one dimensional big who himself is on an expiring. Could have done better. Unless they flip Wood, which they might (and should).
Would have liked to have seen Dallas use Chriss and Sterling Brown more, especially against GS, but I do think this could be a strong move for them, depending how they use their rotations, and what they might add defensively at the guard/wing/4 spots off the bench. I could see them maybe moving someone like Kleber, after a deal like this
Houston has more assets, but with so many teams with multiple picks, and some of those teams with several young players already, I wonder how many of those teams will actually be able to make trades they might be looking for, and how much value those picks will have. That being said, they have some players I wanted to see more of this past season, and I still think they’re well equipped moving forward, so I’m really interested to see how their roster shapes up
…just realized I forgot about Dinwiddie. He and Ntilikina can pretty much fill those first couple of spots I was talking about
Yes, trading Kleber on a guard-heavy team is silly. Trade a guard.
Houston shouldn’t be allowed pro sports teams, all they ever do is play the game the wrong way.
Tilman loves saving money He just acquired 4 players on expiring contracts who he will most likely cut. Getting #26 is a good get for the rockets, just hard to have faith in tilman.
2017 wasn’t too long ago, go astros
Really funny coming from an a’s fan after what oakland did this year
Go Astros. To bad they can trash can they’re way to another ship.
Man I always thought Cuban paid Fertitta to dismantle the Rockets. Now Stone trades Rocket’s leading score the last 2 season to Mavs maybe there should be a investigation lol!
Hating on Vegas now hating on Houston? How pathetic.
Who’s hating on Vegas ? Reading is hard
The A’s fan was bashing Las Vegas in another thread. Now Houston. Try to figure easy things out on your own next time.
I hope they waive Boban and he goes back to Philly.
In the end Hou flipped a free agent signing amidst a rebuild into a 1st rder, Props, easier said than done
My Question; Why they didn’t trade him at last years deadline ..I think the capital would have been more and I never had the sense they’d go into 23′ w Wood…they coulda ate some bad 22 matching money last year as well with no sweat
As an expiring he’s now gotta get acquainted, then either leave or get paid on a small sample size. I think quite a few teams would have paid more at the last TD
*Houston’s got one more year before their own firsts start going out. 23’s going to be another lottery by design
** Too bad Dallas didn’t have multiple 1st’s – They coulda exchanged some monies well w Gordon Bertans Thjr etc for the right price with there current timelines
I feel like Houston might have tried to move Wood last Feb and just failed?
I believe J. Grant was on the block w/ a two 1st asking price and ended up staying put, so if Houston was even asking for a 1st + 2nds for Wood I could see the market being dry.
Agreed though, given him entering his expiring season I don’t hate them locking in a 1st for him, even if it’s a little lower than they’d probably like.
Given what Dallas gave up it’s almost impossible to critique the deal from their end, even if Wood comes with some character concerns.
Adding Wood and Hardaway to this roster next year with no subtractions to the rotation (assuming they retain Brunson) makes me pretty optimistic about the ceiling for Dallas. Luka learned some life lessons against GSW and now – in Wood, Brunson, Dinwiddie, and Hardaway – has more weapons around him than ever.
The question is can THJ and Wood integrate into the team’s defense without imploding it?
For Houston, kind of ho-hum, but #26 is still a 1st round pick, which is probably Wood’s market value w/ one year left on his deal. You might quibble an want a 1st a little higher up, but I don’t totally object to locking in the return now.
Yeah, I thought they would be able to get more like a top-20ish pick, but I’m assuming 26 is the best they could do. Not totally surprising I guess considering the lingering character and defensive concerns.
Regardless, they had to move him this summer IMO. So I think it was the right move.
That Mavs frontcourt will be deeeeeep. I think Lamarcus Aldridge comes home for one last season to round it out;
Finney-Smith/Kleber/Bertans
Wood/Powell/Aldridge
Mark Cuban just got Wood!
This deal is either going to look really good or not so good for the Mavs.
The former involves Wood maturing, Kidd figuring out how to get passable defense of him, and playing on a contender taking his game to another level. This is what I would bet on.
The latter involves Wood becoming a locker room cancer, complaining about a lack of touches, and just not committing himself enough on the defensive end to be someone you want to give big minutes in the playoffs. This is definitely a possible outcome.
Either way, the Mavs didn’t give up much for him so it’s worth finding out what will happen.