Author: Monojit Mandal
Christian Wood, a great player for the Dallas Mavericks, has been a bright spot for the club this season, averaging 16.6 points on 51.5% shooting and 7.3 rebounds per game. Despite his excellent performance, it is doubtful that he will be rehired by the organization. Wood’s contract is set to expire this summer, and he will become a free agent. The Western Conference team, according to Marc Stein, has no plans to bring back the 27-year-old standout. Many people are surprised by this news because Wood has been a constant player for the Mavericks this season.
The Mavericks have encountered several obstacles this season and, with the free agent phase approaching, they will have to make some difficult decisions. In the summer of 2022, the franchise acquired him by sending five players to the Houston Rockets in exchange for the forward. The Mavericks were one of the best teams in the league at the time of the deal, with a 29-18 record and fourth place in the Western Conference. Even so, they have struggled ever since, finishing the season with the fifth worst record in the conference.
Wood is eligible to negotiate a contract extension with the Mavericks, although there were rumors earlier this season that the franchise was not interested in extending his contract beyond two years. Although he could sign a four-year contract worth around US$77 million, it seems that owner Mark Cuban wants to keep the budget space available for free agents in 2025. Wood currently earns US$14.3 million, which is a reasonable salary considering his services to the team. He is a dynamic player who can attack, defend and score, making him an attractive target for other clubs.
Despite Stein’s statement, Cuban has hinted that he has no intention of re-signing Christian Wood. Although Wood’s ability has its limitations, such as poor defending, he is a great addition to any team. It’s unclear who the Mavericks will replace Wood with, but it’s pretty certain that he won’t be returning to Dallas next season. Kyrie Irving, who has been a valuable player this season, should be rehired by the organization.
Luka Doncic is undeniably one of the best players in the league, but the Mavericks will need to surround him with good players if they want to keep him happy. This process may take some time, as the Doncic-Irving duo may need the services of another top player to compete at a high level. To sum up, Christian Wood was an excellent addition to the Dallas Mavericks this season, but it looks like he won’t be back next season. With the free agent period approaching, the Mavericks will have to make some difficult personnel decisions. Whatever happens, fans can expect an intriguing off-season, full of surprises and squad adjustments.
Wood began his college basketball career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 2013 to 2015. He appeared in 30 games with two starts as a freshman, averaging 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Despite his limited playing time, he showed enough promise to earn additional opportunities in his second season.