Rumors: Former Mavericks' big man is Lakers' ideal free agent target

Noah Weber

Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns / Christian Petersen/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks still have an open roster spot, but the team seems in no rush to fill it, as free agency has been going on for over a month. They've added some difference-makers such as Seth Curry and Grant Williams, but they still need to make some more moves to become solidified contenders.

The Mavs also had one of the top remaining free agents on their roster last season, but it looks like he won't be returning to Dallas under any circumstances.

That former Maverick is Christian Wood, and it looks like he could be heading west this offseason.

Rumors: Former Mavericks' big man is Lakers' ideal free agent target

According to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, Wood "still seems like the top choice" for the Lakers' 14th roster spot.

Last season for Dallas, Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. The Mavericks gave up Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Marquese Chriss, Trey Burke, and a first-round pick for Wood last summer, but his time in Dallas did not go as expected.

Wood struggled tremendously on defense and never seemed like he had a solidified role on the team. His minutes also varied often, and he never truly fit in on the team despite playing in 67 games. It just wasn't meant to be.

This partnership couldn't have gone worse, and the Mavericks are likely glad that his deal was expiring. After posting these great stats with Dallas, all of Wood's interest in free agency seems to be at the veteran's minimum.

It is uncommon that a player as talented as Wood has such low value, but his defensive struggles and personality could be scaring teams away. The Lakers seem very interested in signing Wood to be their backup big, but his struggles could lead them to go another way.

Will the Los Angeles Lakers sign Christian Wood or will he go elsewhere?

That question will likely be answered at some point over the next few weeks, and we'll have you covered.

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.