02-02-2023, 08:52 AM
(02-02-2023, 08:05 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: Maybe Wood doesn't want to sign the extension at this point. If that is the case, the Mavs need to know now what the market is and what they are willing to offer. Do they offer 4 year for 77 million this summer? Would they go up to 20 million in an open market? What about 22 million? Mavs need to know those answers now. If they want to resign him now but don't plan on going over 20 million this summer, they need to make some tough decisions.
Worst case for Mavs is if Wood walks for nothing. Mavs are in bird rights trap, meaning player has huge negotiating power and any contract in such conditions is likely an overpay. Unless you send absolutely right messages all the time - good example is GSW and Wiggins. Did Mavs do their job with Wood? I don't think so.
So, if he doesn't want to resign, there are following options in the summer:
1. Wood plays bad, especially in the playoffs (assuming Mavs make it there). Would you even want to resign him then? In that case it would be better Mavs traded him at TDL
2. Wood plays really well and his market (and price) becomes high. Would you want to resign him under these conditions? Team is already expensive and getting out of tax seem to be a priority. There will always be a question mark if that kind of play is sustainable over next 4 years of his new contract. In that case it also seems better to trade him at TDL (its not like Mavs can be a contender this year anyway)
3. Wood plays approximately same way he has now. Good numbers, questionable defense and impact to winning. There are two possibilities in this case - he doesn't want to stay in Dallas at all (better to trade him now) or he is willing to consider Dallas among other options (lets say 50-50 chance he resigns).
Did I forget some other scenario?
Based on my scenarios, I have 2 scenarios where the best move is to trade him now and one scenario where 75 % of options are negative for Mavs. Based on this, I would trade him now for whatever I can get.