Christian Wood, the biggest addition of the Mavericks‘ offseason, is expected to primarily play a sixth man role in Dallas, head coach Jason Kidd told reporters today (Twitter link via Tim MacMahon of ESPN).
“This is my first time hearing about it,” Wood said during his own media session (Twitter link via MacMahon). However, he said that his focus with his new team will be on winning and he’s not overly concerned about whether he starts or comes off the bench.
While it may come as a bit of a surprise that Dallas wants Wood to come off the bench, MacMahon notes (via Twitter) that – as he reported at the time – the Mavs told JaVale McGee when they recruited him in free agency that they envisioned him as their starting center. It seems that plan remains on course.
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- During his Monday media session, Tim Hardaway Jr. pronounced himself “100%” healthy after missing most of last season due to foot surgery, as Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News relays (video link via Twitter). Kidd confirmed that Hardaway has been back in Dallas playing pick-up games for the last week and said the forward is “ready to go,” tweets Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News.
- Frank Ntilikina and Josh Green are candidates to be Dallas’ third ball-handler behind Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie, Kidd said today (Twitter link via Landon Thomas). Speaking of Dinwiddie, he’s feeling good as he enters his first full season as a Maverick and concludes his first full healthy offseason following his ACL injury. “It’s night and day,” Dinwiddie said of his ACL now compared to last year (Twitter link via Caplan). “Not even close.”
- New Bulls guard Goran Dragic confirmed today that he talked with the Mavericks as a free agent this summer, but said he was “never close” to a deal with Dallas (Twitter link via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic).
- Dorian Finney-Smith joked today that he would’ve been upset if Jalen Brunson had remained in Dallas instead of accepting the Knicks’ four-year, $104MM offer. “Man, you see how much money they gave him?” Finney-Smith said (Twitter link via Caplan). “I would’ve been mad if he stayed here.”
Mavs are underrated in regular season
With 10 men depth They are a top 4 seed
Mavs are better than
Wolves
Nuggets
Clippers
I’m proud of you sillyman, you didn’t mention the lakers or rockets in this post. I think your take is dead wrong but that’s a different story
Well done!
Seems pretty short sighted to say oh we promised McGee the starting position. Think at this point in their careers Wood is definitely the better player.
Even if Wood does comes off the bench, I see him playing more minutes than McGee.
Line up I want to see:
Wood
Kleber
Doe Doe
Bullock
Luka
As a Mavs fan I have some thoughts on this
Initially when I found this out I was disappointed. I was looking forward to Wood having an all star level year. However when I thought more about it this is not that bad.
McGee is probably only playing 15 minutes a night. Wood will probably be playing 31+
I don’t see any difference. Wood will be averaging the same numbers and can come in mid game to warm things up.
Don’t think it’s ever a good thing when a player has to find out about their role through the media. Where is the communication?
Whether Wood starts or comes off the bench shouldn’t be much of an issue for him. What should be is whether Kidd envisions playing he and McGee (or another big) together as part of the base rotation. McGee is never going to be a high minutes guy, but, still, one position backups to a one position starter are NOT really 6th men, and uneven minutes could easily affect the extent to which Wood can leverage his skill set.
The Dallas Mavericks are going to be dangerous!
Christian Wood is going to have a great season if he starts or come off the bench.
Mavs are good but still I think fall short.
Just small things like this make me think they can’t do it.
Why have your second best player come off the bench?
You don’t see PG coming off the bench and Kawhi start, or Harden off the bench for Embiid etc etc.
I think they need to be looking at trying to get Myles Turner. Dinwiddie Doncic Hardaway Bullock DFS Kleber Wood Turner and McGee. 9 man rotation and a possible title contender.
As they are I think it’s just another playoff side and depending on match ups and injuries could be out in the first round