16 Players the Mavericks never should have gambled on

15. Christian Wood

Wood was putting up monster numbers in Houston, but there were questions about his impact on winning. He had not played in the playoffs during his first six NBA seasons, but the Mavericks traded four players and a first-round pick to acquire him in the 2022 offseason.

Dallas had just reached the conference finals, but wanted to clear roster space and had a massive hole at the five.

Wood continued to put up numbers, but it was a disastrous season for the Mavericks. They missed Jalen Brunson’s leadership and things melted down after the All-Star break. Dallas traded for Kyrie Irving and had an unbalanced roster. The Mavs missed the postseason and even tanked their final two games to keep their top ten protected first-round pick.

The 6’10 big man has taken a few shots at the Mavericks since his departure, but Dallas never should have gambled on the talented big man. His defensive issues are well documented, and he did not fit with the team’s offense-heavy roster.

Christian Wood departed in free agency after just one season in Dallas and signed a two-year deal worth $5.7 million with the Lakers. He made $14.3 million in his season with the Mavericks, so the partnership was not beneficial for either side.