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

[Kammrath]

I still struggle sometimes on how you interpret the numbers.  Didn't this discussion start with Dan suggesting that Wood was a rotation offense only player that makes sense to come off the bench?  You are disagreeing with him by showing a Raptor ranking in which he is the 7th best player on the team.  Isn't that an argument for him coming off the bench?

Then you argue that Kidd is doing everything in his power to make Wood ineffective.  If my goal was to give Wood the best numbers possible, I would play him with Luka for offensive purposes and with Maxi for defensive purposes and play him as many minutes as I could against second units where defensive limitations are not exposed as much and he can feast offensively.  About the only thing I might do differently than Kidd is give Wood more minutes, unless I was worried that I would expose his limitations doing that.  I don't really see how Kidd is sabatoging him.

1) I think Wood has the talent to be a starter and should log starter minutes. If that proves to be wrong, so be it. But I do not think you can KNOW that without trying it. That is my big complaint with Kidd. He comes at a lot of players with big assumptions it seems and uses them in a way that fits his assumptions. 

2) I do not think Kidd is "doing everything in his power to make Wood ineffective." Not at all. I think @"DanSchwartzgan" is right about what Kidd likely is thinking about Wood. I just think Kidd is in no place to truly know (no one is) until you try other options. I think Kidd is just convinced that he is right (Kidd's arrogance is my biggest complaint about him) about Wood and the way he is using Wood is a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

3) I think Wood should be used like he is the second "star" on the team, i.e. build lineups to fit what magnifies his talents on both ends. Try it, run with it, try to maximize his talents, just don't bury his talents in a limited role. If it doesn't work, then you KNOW and you TRIED. But now the Mavs are looking at a scenario where Wood will likely come and go and we will never know if there was a way to maximize his talent. 

4) I would run Wood/Luka pick and rolls to death. I would run offense through Wood when Luka is sitting. I would play Wood as the lone big. I would play Wood with Maxi. I would play Wood at least 30 minutes a game and let him finish both halves. I would try that for a good number of games and see how it goes. I think Wood can be a high-impact offensive player and a neutral defensive player if used properly. That is my take on him.