Mavericks center Christian Wood, inserted into the team’s starting lineup in recent weeks, seems to finally be adjusting to his new Dallas teammates, and his two-way output has blossomed of late, writes Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News.
“Any time a trade happens, it’s just not the numbers or analytics,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “A human athlete has to perform and has to make the adjustments. As much as we want trades to happen and for them to be successful overnight, it just takes time… You can see he’s starting to get comfortable, and his teammates are getting comfortable with him, and now it’s just a matter of building on the foundation that we’ve built.”
“He’s active,” All-NBA guard Luka Doncic said of Wood earlier this week. “He listens to us, and that’s what he needs to do. He helped us a lot, not just [Sunday], but the last couple games he’s been amazing.”
Across his last eight contests, Wood has been averaging 20.3 PPG on 51.8% shooting and 9.1 RPG, while his net rating increased to plus-8.4 points per 100 possessions.
“I feel like my defense has picked up a little bit in these few weeks,” Wood said, “and these guys just having that confidence to trust in me to make defensive plays.”
Wood is now eligible for a four-year contract extension worth as much as $77MM, but Caplan notes that neither the Mavericks nor Wood’s reps seem to have made major inroads into negotiations as of now.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- Maximum-salaried Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine could emerge as an intriguing trade target for the Mavericks, partnering Doncic with an elite backcourt scorer, provided the oft-hurt LaVine can stay healthy. Tim MacMahon of ESPN recently told colleague Zach Lowe on the latter’s Lowe Post podcast that some members of the Mavericks’ front office could have interest in LaVine. “I just know that there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks,” MacMahon said. “Again, I’m not sitting here and telling you there’s some great consensus. I think there’s enough fans of him where I wouldn’t totally rule it out.”
- Though the Pelicans‘ lease on their current home court, Smoothie King Center, will expire in 2024, it does not appear that New Orleans is planning to migrate in the immediate future, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “Their intention is to extend the lease,” vice president of stadiums for ASM Global Doug Thornton said. ASM Global handles lease negotiations with the Pelicans. “We’re going to determine what capital improvements need to be made. We’re always putting money into the arena. The question is how much?”
- Spurs guard Devin Vassell has exhibited a skill set beyond just being a talented scorer, writes Jeff MacDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Though Vassell has seen his scoring output improve from averaging 12.3 PPG last season to 19.6 PPG this season, the 22-year-old feels that he has grown as a leader as well for this rebuilding young San Antonio club. “I’ve had a good year when it comes to scoring, but it’s not just scoring,” Vassell said. He is set to sit tonight against the Knicks due to a sore left knee, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News reports (Twitter link).
As a mavs fan someone like Zach Lavine is perfect as a second star to Luka
As a bulls fan they would work well together, but I assure you our owner and GM will never trade Zach, our owner is fine with play in seasons, to our teams detriment, but everyone needs to stop thinking about Zach he’s not going anywhere unless a Donovan Mitchell trade package can convince the cheapest owner in American sports history to have another rebuild, it took 5 years of horrendous team building and fans to stop goin to games before he even fired GarPax, Bulls don’t operate the way everyone seems to think
LaVine and Doncic would not blend well.
vessel averaged 12 ppg last year
You know who else likes Zach LaVine? The Bulls.
Wonder what the price would be for Zach and what Dallas would be offering?
They have Luka who is off the table, Wood who would likely be off the table and then a bunch of role players and a couple intriguing young guys like Josh Green and Jaden Hardy. Think it would have to be a combination of both young players, role players and picks….
Dallas should think smarter and instead of losing key roles players, young guys and your future picks all for a risky invest like LaVine. LaVine himself hasn’t really been on a team that’s won much, couple trips to the playoffs over his career but the TWolves team he was on much more was expected and now the same with the Bulls.
Not to mention his complete lack of defence next to Luka who also sucks at that would be terrible.
I think a much smarter move would be Myles Turner. Born and raised in Dallas, currently on a rebuilding team who would have some interest in trading him cause he’s also on an expiring deal. Two things which also lower his price a little.
On the court he blocks shots at an elite level, and spaces the floor. Would be a great fit with Luka and potentially could work well with Wood aswell. He’s currently having the best season of his career and not to mention he’s consistently always made the playoffs in Indy, and has played at a higher level with USA Basketball aswell.
Instead did having to try salary match 37mil with the Bulls your going for about 18mil with the Pacers.
I’d offer Dwight Powell, Josh Green, Frank Ntilikina and a first round pick for Myles.
Frank just for salary matching and would most likely get waived. Then by doing so you’ve also cleared two open roster spots.
Then you’d line up most likely
Luka Bullock DFS Wood Turner
Dinwiddie Hardy Hardaway Kleber McGee
Luka and Wood the two main scoring threats with defence in the form of Bullock DFS and Turner around them. Off the bench impact from Dinwiddie and Hardaway, Hardy getting some minutes and Kleber and McGee as your bigs.
Probably with the open roster spots get more wings
Christian Wood is never off the table.
LaVine to the Knicks ………. yeeeeesss
Spurs didn’t need Vassell tonight.
For 3 first rounders and Quentin Grimes and salary filler. I’d think about it. Knicks have a lot of extra first rounders
Luka and Zach together would raise huge concerns about defense.
It’s amazing how often front offices seem to need to be reminded about this.
You serious about winning a championship? Two turnstiles in your backcourt will not work. It just won’t. It might get you into the playoffs where you could be mildly competitive, but if you would have your sights set higher it’s a death sentence, particularly when both players would be on max deals.
If I were the Mavs I’d try to lock up Wood, then figure out how to upgrade to a legitimate two-way player. Luka/Wood/Dinwiddie/THJ is enough to get by offensively for the time being (not as part of a starting lineup, just speaking generally).
Green has shown some promise offensively this year, but the sample size is too small to bank on just yet. But in a world where he pans out, a starting lineup of Luka/Green/THJ/Kleber/Wood ain’t half bad. One more upgrade from there could put them in good position.
If the Bulls are smart they would find a buyer for LaVine and take the best offer out there.
LaVine is a scoring guard and plays little defense, so if the Mavs want him then show what they will offer.
Also Knicks and any other team…
Mavs have nothing at all to offer. Knicks do have quite a few first rounders and Grimes.
After KP I’d be avoiding players with historically unreliable & surgically repaired knee’s. I’d also be wanting players in Doncic timeline. Lavine is a little senior, and injured @ 43 million if I’m making the effort to build for a future title.
Don’t worry about Lavine. Mavs have zero of value to offer the Bulls in return.
I don’t think picks come to Chicago at this point for Lavine in any deal, but a lopsided one. The 43 million is going to be a problem, and the amount of years left. There would have to be some very terrible contracts, or some other imbalance. All respect, and I’m not saying Dallas has the right pieces for a deal. I’d be dumping the huge contracts of Lavine & Vucevic, and quick-build around Derozan in the off-season. Or blow the whole thing up, and start over, using cap to acquire draft compensation starting next season. Let Lonzo sit until he heals, and move on…
Translation: The Mavs would be 5 plus games under 500 if Woods is not there and Jason would be on the first coach to get fired list.
Vassell and Johnson are proving to be guys to build a team around. Schohan i have been happy with his all around skill. Tre Jones is proving to be a starting caliber pg. With all the speed bumps the franchise seems to be on the right track. Fingers crossed for victor. But with all the future firsts rolling in trade chips in poetl, richardson and McDermott they should have a nice cache to supplement the roster over the next couple years.