Dallas Mavericks select Wendell Moore Jr. in 2022 NBA Draft: Traded to Minnesota

The Dallas Mavericks selected Wendell Moore Jr. with the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he was never headed to Dallas. Mavs' general manager and president of basketball operations agreed to trade this pick with Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, and Sterling Brown to the Houston Rockets for Christian Wood. Dallas needed an upgrade and the deal cleared some roster space for the Mavericks to make further upgrades.

Wood is a 6’10 big man that can score, rebound, and space the floor, but the Rockets drafted Jabari Smith Jr. with the third overall pick, and they have Alperen Sengun, who was the 16th overall selection in the 2021 draft. The Rockets are rebuilding and want to play their young guys significant minutes.

The Christian Wood trade was a win for both sides, and it expanded on draft night. Dallas gets a needed center upgrade and some roster space at the cost of a late first-round pick. The Rockets rerouted the selection to Minnesota on draft night.

Dallas Mavericks select Wendell Moore Jr. in 2022 NBA Draft: Heads to Minnesota as part of Christian Wood trade

The Rockets traded Wendell Moore Jr. to the Timberwolves on draft night. Minnesota got a 6’4 wing that can handle the ball and play stout defense.

The Stepien Rule prevented the Mavs trade from being finalized before the draft. NBA teams are not allowed to trade first-round picks in consecutive years, and the Mavericks owe their 2023 first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade. It forced Dallas to draft Wendell Moore Jr. for Houston, who dealt him to Minnesota.

This trade should be finalized in the coming days with all the particulars. It appears nothing changed from the Mavericks' side.

The Dallas Mavericks are not done making moves. They want to build a title contender around superstar Luka Doncic, and Dallas plans to add more pieces this offseason, so stay tuned to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest rumors, news, and analysis.