THE CRUCIFIX: Cato: Wood isn't thrilled w/ his role...Will depart in the summer

[KillerLeft]

Everyone can see Wood's offensive impact but very few, if anyone outside of the coaching staff, fully understand his defensive impact. Is he following the game plan? Is he in the right position? Is he helping? Is he slowing transition? Is he deterring paint attacks or attempts at the rim? Is he changing shots?

Only playing 17 minutes tells me he's not impacting the game defensively at least as well as any of the other bigs.

Here's the rub:

This is probably 100% accurate. Right on the money. 

But, in the Mavs' situation, they need him to "figure things out" or "fit here" or "work out" or however you want to couch it, just as badly as Wood does, if not more. I think that's where the frustration is coming from. 

This could be wrong also, for all the same "we're not on the inside" reasons you hint at above, but from an outside POV it sure seems like an attitude of "hey, we're a deep playoff team without him, so if he wants to get paid it's up to him to live up to what we're asking of him" is being adopted. Only, this team, without Brunson, might not BE a playoff team. 

The Mavs NEED Wood to work here. BADLY.