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I think Wood knows best that even if he wins 6MOY for his bank account a starting role is more important. Question is if he will demand it at some point in the season (obviously assuming that he continues to play like this).

Also, Kawhi is going to be in the running for 6th man oty if he keeps coming off the bench. I’ll be skeptical of him accepting any extension until it actually happens. He wants at least THJ money IMO (not declining either). I think the number he’ll ask for is starting at least at $20M.

(10-23-2022, 02:13 AM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]So why has this guy bounced around so much? 

This is the great question. Some of it is easy to answer, some not.

• So on his first four teams he was just one of those guys trying to make an NBA roster. He was undrafted so the "pedigree" wasn't there that causes teams give guys a million chances. 
  
• When he got to DET he absolutely broke out and was a GREAT NBA player and it was hard to deny (at this point I personally started wanting him even though I liked what I saw in his summer league stint with DAL and said so at the time, loved his motor and he popped off the screen to me). This season with DET got him the deal with HOU (3 yr/$41M) which was a big deal for an undrafted guy. 
  
• Then he spent the last two seasons on the bottom feeding Rockets. They are doing a complete rebuild where a guy entering his later 20s isn't ideal. 
  
• So on one level him bouncing around is easy to explain. BUT I think the bigger question is why he cost only a late 1st and garbage. There are rumblings about his effort and smarts and team mentality. I think we fans cannot know the truth, but I am confident the Mavs have all the info they need to proceed properly.
  

Through 2 games Luka has a 35.4 PER (!) and is NOT leading his team in PER (!!!!).

Christian Wood, ladies and gentlemen, Christian Wood. 36.9 PER.

Sometimes a winning team with structure and a positive environment change everything.

Through 2 games Wood's numbers per 36 minutes....

36.7 pts, 3.7 asts, 14.7 rbds, 1.5 blks.

(10-23-2022, 08:08 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]Through 2 games Wood's numbers per 36 minutes....

36.7 pts, 3.7 asts, 14.7 rbds, 1.5 blks.

Is that good?

(10-23-2022, 08:25 AM)Smitty Wrote: [ -> ]Is that good?

It's an ok start.

I want to actually see what he does with 36 minutes, not project what it would’ve been. Actually my hope is for no more than 32 mpg for anyone on the team until the playoffs.

I think Wood not starting early in the year is fine. He doesn't need to start every game banging with the other team's starting big man. Steven Adams can accidentally injure someone on every single play. Wood is a pretty thin big man so protecting him some is fine. He should ramp up around the TDL as the starter to start prepping for the playoffs. Hopefully can find a deal from some tanking team for someone that can come in like Dinwiddie did last year and take the bench ball handler role. The worst thing that can happen to someone in a contract year is getting injured, so I bet Wood is fine with it too as long as he gets his minutes. He still needs to close though, him not closing the Phoenix game made no sense.

So, it seems to me that 
1) Wood is worth way more than his current contract to the Mavs if he continues to play at, and mesh with Luka at, his current level. Tbqh, Luka-Wood-SD looks like a contending core to me if SD stays healthy. We did it in one offseason. 
2) Wood really likes it here - comradery, fun, winning.
3) Getting him to sign the possible extensions would require him to fire his current agent and not hire another one, because it would be cataclysmically moronic at the market value he is going to establish playing here unless things go catastrophically south.

The questions that remain:
1) Can Kidd get him to keep off the grass?
2) Can he continue to play defense in such a way that he is at least not a liability (looking at you, friggin' THJ)?
3) Can he deal with adversity and play nice with Kidd and his teammates throughout the course of the season?
and far most importantly, the next three:
4) Do we have his full Bird rights after this season?
5) Is there anything in our cap structure that would prevent us from beating any free agent offer? (If so, how much salary would we have to dump? Is that where all of our freed-up future first rounders will end up next summer?)
6) Will Mark then pony up to keep him? Or will he swallow being burned in effigy by the fandom daily throughout the 2023-24 season?

Inquiring minds want to know. Bottom line is, if things continue as they are, Wood is worth KP+ money to the Mavs, and they'd be stupid not to do everything in their power to keep him.

(10-23-2022, 10:17 AM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: [ -> ]So, it seems to me that 
1) Wood is worth way more than his current contract to the Mavs if he continues to play at, and mesh with Luka at, his current level. Tbqh, Luka-Wood-SD looks like a contending core to me if SD stays healthy. We did it in one offseason. 
2) Wood really likes it here - comradery, fun, winning.
3) Getting him to sign the possible extensions would require him to fire his current agent and not hire another one, because it would be cataclysmically moronic at the market value he is going to establish playing here unless things go catastrophically south.

The questions that remain:
1) Can Kidd get him to keep off the grass?
2) Can he continue to play defense in such a way that he is at least not a liability (looking at you, friggin' THJ)?
3) Can he deal with adversity and play nice with Kidd and his teammates throughout the course of the season?
and far most importantly, the next three:
4) Do we have his full Bird rights after this season?
5) Is there anything in our cap structure that would prevent us from beating any free agent offer? (If so, how much salary would we have to dump? Is that where all of our freed-up future first rounders will end up next summer?)
6) Will Mark then pony up to keep him? Or will he swallow being burned in effigy by the fandom daily throughout the 2023-24 season?

Inquiring minds want to know. Bottom line is, if things continue as they are, Wood is worth KP+ money to the Mavs, and they'd be stupid not to do everything in their power to keep him.

He signed a 3 year deal with Houston, so we should have his full bird rights.  We should not have to dump any salary unless Cuban is choking on the tax.  

I think if Wood plays near this level including average or better defense, we will be more likely to sign him than we were Brunson.  He will fit what this org is trying to do better, and will likely be motivated to stay as opposed to go team up with his daddy.

(10-23-2022, 05:18 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]Also, Kawhi is going to be in the running for 6th man oty if he keeps coming off the bench. I’ll be skeptical of him accepting any extension until it actually happens. He wants at least THJ money IMO (not declining either). I think the number he’ll ask for is starting at least at $20M.

Kawhi is a prima donna.   Before the year is over he'll be injured or disgruntled.

(10-23-2022, 02:01 AM)F Gump Wrote: [ -> ]BTW, if I'm the Mavs, I'm shooting at selling Wood on getting the 6th Man award this season. That focuses him on a goal that works with their rotation, rather than a different one (starting) that causes issues. And it should be very possible for him, in his role.

Is Wood being somewhat slotted into the role of the 3rd offense creator, that helps open up the possibilities for the Luka-SD duo (just like SD did for Luka-JB last season? Is that possible? Not that his game is anything like JB's, but it seems Wood's ability to get a good shot with great regularity is already hinting at the potential for a similar 3-way dynamic as we saw at the end of last season.

Yes, I see Wood taking over Brunson role as one of three creators (in a totally different way as you say).  If he continues to hold his own as a single big it makes roster construction very straight forward.  We play two out of three creators (Luka/Din/Wood) and 2 out of 3 3&D guys (DFS/Bullock/Maxi).  The fifth roster spot is up for grabs with a hodgepodge of folks (THJ/McGee/Green).  Its that roster spot we need to upgrade next offseason.

(10-23-2022, 10:47 AM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, I see Wood taking over Brunson role as one of three creators (in a totally different way as you say).  If he continues to hold his own as a single big it makes roster construction very straight forward.  We play two out of three creators (Luka/Din/Wood) and 2 out of 3 3&D guys (DFS/Bullock/Maxi).  The fifth roster spot is up for grabs with a hodgepodge of folks (THJ/McGee/Green).  Its that roster spot we need to upgrade next offseason.

I call dibs on OG Anunoby or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for that 5th spot. Both belong in both groups!

(10-23-2022, 10:47 AM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, I see Wood taking over Brunson role as one of three creators (in a totally different way as you say).  If he continues to hold his own as a single big it makes roster construction very straight forward.  We play two out of three creators (Luka/Din/Wood) and 2 out of 3 3&D guys (DFS/Bullock/Maxi).  The fifth roster spot is up for grabs with a hodgepodge of folks (THJ/McGee/Green).  Its that roster spot we need to upgrade next offseason.

NO! Just NO NO NO NO...NOOOOOO.

I dont care if this guy goes for 40+ every game...he needs to go.

(10-23-2022, 10:55 AM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]I call dibs on OG Anunoby or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for that 5th spot. Both belong in both groups!

Would love either of those. We might be able to get Anunoby for cap filler plus two first rounders. SGA probably costs a player the Mavs wouldn't want to give up (likely SD at least) plus a Gobert's worth of future picks.

(10-23-2022, 11:42 AM)dynamicalVoid Wrote: [ -> ]NO! Just NO NO NO NO...NOOOOOO.

I dont care if this guy goes for 40+ every game...he needs to go.

I'm fine with them trading him, but considering 1) he's hurting his value when he plays and 2) I have no desire to give up a first, I have a feeling the return might be close to being as distasteful. Also, it *will* hurt the Mavs to trade him from the standpoint of Moreyism (i.e., players who aren't Luka - and maybe Wood - are just trade commodities for the Mavs, so beware of signing with them).

THJ doenst belong in the NBA in my opinion.   Terrible at defense and a selfish on offense with little dribbling or creating skills.

He deserves no minutes.  Literally none.  He's about getting his.  Im over THJ and the Mavs have egg on their face for being into guys with this low of skill.   Its embarrassing.