What the Dallas Mavericks must figure out after the 2023 trade deadline

The Dallas Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster trade that cost them two starters and three draft picks. They were desperate to add a second star, and the Mavs landed the best available player for the price that they paid.

It was a franchise-altering move and one that comes with a significant amount of risk. Irving has forced his way out of three franchises already. He is one of the most talented players in the league, but there are both short and long-term risks. Kyrie will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he could leave Dallas for any suitor.

The Mavericks are facing a ton of questions after their superstar addition. With the 2023 trade deadline in the rearview mirror, their roster is virtually set for the stretch run. They could add a player or two through free agency or the buyout market, but those will be ancillary pieces. What do the Mavs need to figure out before the postseason arrives?

What Dallas Mavericks must figure out during the stretch run: 5. Does C-Wood fit long-term?

Wood is averaging 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game. He is shooting 53.0 percent from the field and 37.5 percent on his 3-point attempts in his first season with the Mavericks. Despite the strong numbers, Wood has played over 30 minutes just 14 times this season.

He is in the final year of his contract, and the 6’10 forward will become an unrestricted free agent this summer unless the two sides can work out an extension. There is not much progress there, but Dallas needs a plan. Do they just let him walk for nothing in free agency? Can the Mavs sign-and-trade him somewhere? Could the two sides find a short-term deal that works both? There are several possible solutions.

The Mavericks need a plan of attack for the offseason, and deciding what to do with Christian Wood is a key piece of that. No firm decision has been made, and it will be interesting to see how the talented 6’10 big man plays off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving when the team gets rolling.