Why Dallas Mavericks Should Pursue Christian Wood
There have been many discussions this offseason about why the Dallas Mavericks should pursue a deal to trade away Kristaps Porzingis. But why not improve the roster around him and Luka Doncic instead, raising the team’s ceiling in the process.
There is no denying the talent that Porzingis has. He was on a tear at the end of the 2019-20 season before the Covid-19 shutdown. From February 3rd through the playoffs, Porzingis averaged 26.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He was making 3.2 3-pointers per game at a 37.1 percent clip.
Getting him back to that level should be what the Mavericks are focusing on. Adding another player of Christian Wood’s caliber alongside him could help.
Having another player capable of carrying the offensive load will help take pressure off of Porzingis and Doncic. Wood showed what he was capable of with the New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons from 2017-19 but truly blossomed this past season with the Houston Rockets.
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Wood averaged 21 points with 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He made 37.4 percent of his 3-point attempts, showcasing an impressive inside-out game.
Adding that kind of production alongside what the Mavericks already have could help take them to the next level. Wood would give Doncic another partner to run pick-and-roll variations to pull defenders further away from the basket.
The former UNLV product could play alongside Porzingis, given the diversity in their games. He would also give them someone capable of stepping into a bigger role should Porzingis go down with an injury again.
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That is not something anyone else on the current roster is capable of doing. If they can land Wood from the Houston Rockets for Dwight Powell and a 2025 first-round pick, it is a deal Dallas would do every day of the week.
