According to Jack Maloney of CBS Sports on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets have come to terms on a blockbuster deal in the National Basketball Association. The Rockets have traded center Christian Wood of Long Beach. California to the Dallas Mavericks for four players and a draft pick.
The four players are center Boban Marjanovic of Zajecar, Serbia, point guard Trey Burke of Columbus, Ohio, power forward Marquese Chriss of Sacramento, California, and swingman Sterling Brown of Maywood, Illinois. The draft pick will be the first round pick, 26th overall, in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Another Mavericks deal is expected to be on the way. That is because the New York Knicks currently have the Mavericks first round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Due to a quirky rule, all NBA teams must have a first round pick at least every other year.
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The Mavericks become Wood’s seventh NBA team. In addition to the Rockets, he has previously played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Detroit Pistons. The fact that Wood has traveled around so frequently is interesting. His two seasons with the Rockets are the most he has ever been with one team.
In 2021-22, Wood averaged 17.9 points per game, and had career-highs in rebounds per game (10.1), assists per game (2.3), and three-point percentage (.390). He also had a field goal percentage of .501 and a free throw percentage of .623.
The intent of this trade from a Mavericks perspective is to acquire a center that will help provide more space for superstar Luka Doncic to produce at a high level. Even though Wood is 6’10”, he is a rather slim 214 pounds.
