5 Biggest questions for the Dallas Mavericks heading into training camp

Will Christian Wood buy into a sixth-man role with the Dallas Mavericks?

Head coach Jason Kidd wasted no time in naming his starting lineup, and he made it clear that JaVale McGee would start at the five from the moment they signed him. With Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock opening on the wings, that means Christian Wood will come off the bench.

Wood averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game during his two seasons in Houston. He was the team’s leading scorer last year, and their go-to option, but the Rockets had the worst record in the NBA.

The 26-year-old big man is entering a contract year and has a chance to make the playoffs for the first time. Will he be on board with coming off the bench? Wood figures to be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, but will that be enough to convince him on the role as he looks to play his way into a massive contract?

The Dallas Mavericks plan on making a deep playoff run, so they need every player onboard with their role. Will Wood buy into his spot? If not, the Mavs will likely have the 6’10 big man back on the trade block before the deadline.

Embracing his role could lead to a career year from Christian Wood because even coming off the bench, he will get plenty of chances to play next to Luka Doncic. The duo will be impossible to stop on the offensive end of the floor. If Wood improves his defense, he could quickly find his way into the starting five, and he still figures to be the leader in minutes played among the team’s big men.