7 Dallas Mavericks players who definitely shouldn't be back next year

The Dallas Mavericks had arguably their most disappointing season in franchise history. They went from losing the conference finals to not even making the Play-In Tournament. Dallas was a shocking 38-44, despite Luka Doncic putting up MVP-caliber numbers and the Mavs employing two superstars.

The Mavs season ended with an epic collapse. They were in fourth in the Western Conference after a win over the Kings on Feb. 10 and had just completed the blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving only to finish 7-17 and sink to 11th. Dallas tanked away their final two games in hopes of keeping their top ten protected draft pick, which forced the league to open an investigation. It has been a wild and forgettable season in Dallas.

They need to make changes this offseason. The Mavericks must improve their defense, rebounding, rim protection, and depth if they want to get back to the playoffs in 2024. Adding to the roster means subtracting some current players, and here are seven that should not be back next season.

Dallas Mavericks who shouldn’t be back next year: 7. Christian Wood

Wood is an unrestricted free agent this offseason that barely played after Dallas traded for Kyrie Irving. The Mavs traded a first-round pick for the 6’10 big man to help replace the scoring they lost with Jalen Brunson’s departure, but C-Wood never fully earned the trust of the coaching staff.

From Feb. 6 to the end of the season, Wood averaged just 20.8 minutes per game. He still scored over 13 points with 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, but the playing time was just not there.

Christian Wood has still never played in a postseason game in his NBA career, and the two sides will be happy to part ways this summer. The 6’10 big man wants to be an All-Star, but the Mavericks did not trust his defense enough to play him massive minutes. Expect C-Wood to find a new home this offseason, and the Dallas Mavericks are likely to let him walk in free agency.