NBA Rumors: Dallas Mavericks not expected to re-sign Christian Wood

NBA Rumors: The Dallas Mavericks are not expected to bring back Christian Wood heading into next season. 

Heading into the offseason, the Dallas Mavericks are a team that many expect to be aggressive. After missing the NBA Playoffs this season, one year after making it to the Western Conference Finals, it’s clear that the Mavs will need to make an addition or two in the offseason if they want to get back to a contending level in the West.

Although, as you would expect, that could be easier said than done. The offseason hasn’t even started and the Mavs have already been linked to a couple of stars that could emerge as trade targets for the team. But with additions come subtractions. And according to a recent report (subscription required), one subtraction that could arise for the team is Christian Wood, who is slated to be a free agent during the offseason.

At least for now, it seems that Wood could emerge as a player that the Mavs let walk in free agency.

Wood has been productive for the team but his ineffectiveness on the defensive end of the floor could be a big reason for the team’s willingness to move away from him. Wood is coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points and seven rebounds on 52 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from 3-point range but it would be likely that the team will be looking to use that money (that he’s likely going to command on the open market) on a player that would fit better (especially on the defensive end of the floor) next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

How will the Dallas Mavericks pivot heading into the offseason?

The expectation is that the Mavs are going to try to re-sign Kyrie. Considering that no one really knows what Kyrie might do, that’s a risky No. 1 priority to have heading into the offseason. But that’s kind of the bed that the Mavs made for themselves when decided to acquire him at the NBA Trade Deadline.

With pressure beginning to mount on the front office to make a big move, this is going to be an interesting offseason for the Mavs. Will they surround Luka (and possibly Kyrie) with enough talent to help them get back to the top of the West?

That’s one of the biggest “what ifs” in the West heading into this offseason.