In an all Texas affair, the Dallas Mavericks are set to acquire C/PF Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets.
Going back to Houston will be Dallas’ 1st round draft pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft (26th overall) along with veterans Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Sterling Brown, and Marquese Chriss.
As a result, Houston now owns picks 3, 17, and 26 for the draft on June 23rd. It also allows them to work 2021 1st rounder Alperen Sengun into the starting rotation, while also freeing up a spot for their eventual 2022 1st rounders.
The Rockets are expected to land one Paolo Banchero (PF, Duke), Chet Holmgren (C, Gonzaga), or Jabari Smith (PF, Auburn) with their 3rd overall selection.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks acquire a dependable big man who can contribute immediately in their starting five. Wood, 26, has averaged 14.2pts/7.3reb/1.3ast for his career, however he saw a spike in production since being dealt to Houston in 2020.
With the Rockets in 2021-22 he increased those figures to 17.9pts/10.1reb/2.3ast per game, while shooting 50.1% from the field, and a career best 39% from beyond the arc. The Long Beach, CA native is in the final year of his current deal and is set to earn $14.3M in the 2022-23 season, making the trade a relatively low risk, high reward deal for the Mavs.
Upgrading in the frontcourt was one of Dallas’ primary goals this offseason after bowing out in the Western Conference finals against the Warriors. The Mavs essentially lived and died with the 3-ball for much of the playoffs as they struggled to get points in the paint when their shots weren’t falling.
The team hopes that by adding Wood, a big man who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the court, while also stretching the floor with his outside shooting ability, it will force opposing defenders to play them more honestly.
On the other end of the spectrum, Houston gains another 1st round draft pick, without taking on any bad contracts or additional long term salary as they continue to build around their young core. The Rockets are coming off another dismal season in which they went 20-62, but will now have additional draft capital to insulate Jalen Green & Kevin Porter Jr. as their rebuild moves forward.