The Dallas Mavericks have come to life over the previous few weeks, and Christian Wood is on the literal and figurative heart of that rejuvenation. With Wood within the beginning lineup, Dallas has now gained seven video games in a row. He’s averaging over 19 factors per recreation through the streak, and extra importantly, he and Luka Doncic are growing into probably the most harmful pick-and-roll mixture within the NBA as they rack up victories. Dallas has moved as much as the No. 4 seed within the Western Conference through the streak, and now, the workforce is making an attempt to determine what to do with Wood shifting ahead.
Wood is eligible for a contract extension. According to Marc Stein, the Mavericks have engaged Wood on extension talks, however there are just a few points standing between the 2 sides and an settlement. The largest is the NBA’s extension guidelines. Wood is just eligible for $77 million over 4 years as a result of the quantity a participant is eligible for in an extension relies on his prior wage. Wood’s present deal, initially signed with the Houston Rockets in 2020, is effectively beneath market worth.
The Mavericks would additionally seemingly desire a shorter deal, with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reporting that their choice can be a two-year, $36 million pact. Given his play so far this season, both deal may very well be perceived as low cost relative to what he might get as a free agent this summer season, when no such restrictions will apply.
But Dallas already went by a model of this dilemma with Jalen Brunson a 12 months in the past. While the circumstances have been barely completely different as a result of Dallas dragged its toes and did not supply an extension till after the commerce deadline, they have been in the end unable to supply Brunson a good deal final season. They wound up dropping him for nothing in free company to the Knicks. Dallas would not seem too eager on letting that occur once more with Wood. According to Stein, the Mavericks are anticipated to discover the commerce marketplace for Wood if no settlement is reached.
How critically they might achieve this is unclear, particularly given how very important Wood has confirmed to their roster. It’s additionally price noting that Wood’s worth was pretty restricted when Dallas acquired him for only one late first-round decide final offseason. Wood’s expertise has by no means been in query, however his angle and defensive limitations have scared groups off up to now.
An extension, both now or within the offseason, would seem like in everybody’s greatest pursuits. Dallas merely cannot afford to lose one other proficient participant, and Wood is enjoying the most effective basketball of his profession with the Mavericks. But given the constraints on what kind of deal they will supply, and past that, what they’re keen to supply, it might be awhile earlier than Wood and the Mavericks are capable of come to phrases on a deal.
