Report: Former Mavericks fan-favorite big man signs with Lakers

Noah Weber

Sacramento Kings v Dallas Mavericks / Ron Jenkins/GettyImages

Dallas Mavericks fans thought all of their problems at center would be over last summer when the Mavs traded four players and a first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Christian Wood.

Dallas hadn't had a good starting center in some time, and Wood was going to be the big that could protect the rim, score, and stretch the floor.

So Mavs fans thought.

Report: Former Mavericks fan-favorite big man signs with Lakers

Although Wood put up great stats and averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, he only started in 17 games. There always seemed to be something up between him and Jason Kidd, and his role never seemed guaranteed.

There were even rumors that Kidd never even wanted him in the first place when they made the trade. Mark Cuban also spoke on a podcast and talked about the downfall of the Mavs having to do with players not all buying into their roles.

Cuban never mentioned names, but it seemed like he was talking about Wood. This isn' the best look for the Mavs, but Wood will be playing somewhere else next season.

On September 7, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Wood signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were one of the teams that have been linked to him for most of free agency, and they finally got their guy.

Wood wasn't receiving any interest for more than the veteran minimum, and this deal allows him to opt out of his contract after year one if he wanted because he has a player option. He will likely try to prove himself in year one of the deal so he can chase a bigger deal elsewhere.

Wood is a great pickup for the Lakers, but will they make the playoffs with him on the roster?

He has never played in the playoffs, and has repeortedly had character problems in the past.

Wood will have the chance to have a fresh start in Los Angeles, and he could finally make the playoffs for the first time. He and the Mavs will have plenty of battles next season, and these games are always good, as the Mavs and Lakers always seem to play their best when they match up against each other.

We'll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors surrounding Christian Wood and the Dallas Mavericks this summer, so stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.