Christian Wood responds to Dallas Mavericks exit rumors on Twitter

The Dallas Mavericks traded a first-round pick and four players for Christian Wood last summer. They needed to clear some roster space heading into the offseason, and Wood averaged over 19 points and nearly ten rebounds per game during his two seasons in Houston. Fans got excited, but the 6’10 big man never quite lived up to his potential with the Mavericks.

Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 25.9 minutes per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 37.6 percent on his 3-point tries. The 27-year-old struggled to get consistent minutes in Dallas because of his defense. There were always flashes of his potential, but consistency and impact were often lacking.

Christian Wood is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and The Athletic’s Tim Cato made it clear in his State of the Mavs (subscription required) article that the 6'10 big man is not expected to return next season. Here is a look at why, and what Dallas needs in his replacement.

Dallas Mavericks rumors: Christian Wood exit on the horizon

Beyond noting Wood's anticipated exit, Cato shared that the coaching staff did not believe that the 6’10 forward was an All-Star, despite his agent attempting to get his client some love behind the scenes. Cato’s article was hard-hitting on C-Wood, and he noted that the team may not have wanted him in the first place in an interview with Kevin Gray Jr. for his podcast.

Dallas needed to clear roster space, but did they have to give up the 26th overall pick to do it? The players the Mavericks moved were all on smaller contracts, so it was not like they needed to move a first-round selection. The franchise wanted Wood or believed they could flip him for something more. That did not work out, and he never fit in Dallas.

Wood responded to Cato’s article on Twitter in a now-since-deleted Tweet, including saying that he would “tell the story when the time is right”.

Christian Wood will not return to the Dallas Mavericks next season. The 6’10 big man is an unrestricted free agent, and he should find a new home. It will likely be on a rebuilding team with a bit of cap space that gets intrigued by his potential.

The Dallas Mavericks must focus on a defensive-minded big man for C-Wood’s replacement. They desperately need rebounding and rim protection around their two superstars. Kyrie Irving is a free agent this summer, and the Mavs must bring him back. Can they re-sign Irving and add the necessary pieces to jump back into contention? It is worth watching this summer, and stay tuned for all the latest.