The players the Rockets will acquire when the Christian Wood trade becomes official may never play for the team, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Houston has agreed to send Wood to the Mavericks in exchange for the 26th pick in next week’s draft and four players on expiring contracts, Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss.
Chriss and Brown both played for the Rockets before, but aren’t expected to be invited to training camp, according to Feigen. He cites Marjanovic as the most likely player to remain with the organization because of his abilities on offense and his willingness to accept a backup role, but adds that Marjanovic’s fate won’t be determined for a while.
None of the players will make more than $3.5MM next season, so they could be waived without a significant impact to the Rockets’ financial situation or they could be moved in other deals. Houston will have 16 players under contract once the deal is complete, along with its two-way players and three picks in the first round of the draft.
There’s more NBA news from Texas:
- Wood’s time with the Rockets has seemed limited ever since the team traded up in last year’s draft to select Alperen Sengun, notes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Despite Wood’s unique talents, he wasn’t successful at power forward alongside Daniel Theis at the start of the season and he didn’t fit well next to Sengun. Wood also didn’t offer much rim protection as a center and he may not have been interested in re-signing with Houston because of his desire to be with a playoff team, Iko adds.
- Marjanovic was one of Luka Doncic‘s best friends on the team, but the Mavericks could appease Doncic by pursuing fellow Slovenian guard Goran Dragic in free agency, suggests Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
- Colorado State’s David Roddy is scheduled to work out for the Mavericks on Friday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Dallas won’t have any picks once the Wood deal goes through, but the team could try to trade into the late first round or early second round, where Roddy is projected to be taken.
- Arkansas big man Jaylin Williams worked out for the Spurs on Tuesday, according to Andrew Slater of Pro Insight (Twitter link). Along with three first-round picks, San Antonio has the No. 38 selection, where it could target Williams, who is projected as a mid second-rounder.
Wood, even at 26, really just didn’t fit the Rockets timeline. He’s a great offensive player and think with Luka he can be even better. Needs to pick it up defensively, but could see him be a solid two way player with some more work. He signed with Houston thinking he was going to play alongside Harden and Russ. I appreciate his time in Houston, all things considered. Gets to play in the playoffs now, more than likely.
I wish Wood well with Dallas and wonder will Sengun truly be an answer. Will Houston deal Gordon. Will Houston use all these Draft picks in first round. I just want to start seeing something with this team. Silas not sure is last year of his contract but with Rockets I know Wood probably thought would have Harden and Russ next to him so now wants to play elsewhere. But want to see something to enjoy watching with this team. Hopefully a start and more building by 2023-2024 season and maybe contend by 2024-2025 season.
That was a good summary of WOOD from the perspective of fit— he didn’t, with the options presented to him. At least according to Iko, who saw him with Sengun & Theis.
Iko & Feigan & other Rocket beat writers do have to consider making FERTITA mad when they write… Sometimes they take a corporate line… I might do that too if a mafia type was reading with bias and investment in the subject’s news.
Several posters picked up on the possible DRAGIC-Mavs link. Dragic may get an offer he can’t refuse! ;)
Seriously, they will wind up with a jam-up at guard. Good thing they dumped some. Is Dinwiddie the new Trey Burke on the bench lol?
Gragic could have helped Heat get to Finals this year…. His offense is still invaluable in postseason for any team.
It seems like they could possibly seal some of those guys for 2nd round picks or even move one of the players with a 2nd for a future 2nd
Woodzingis is a strange fit
Next up, Wall being dealt too…..
C-Wood might wanna slow down with his treys in practice & get on with his free throws, which he is atrocious at, that would be very helpful to DAL!