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

[DanSchwartzgan]

In case you don't have access to the entire blurb from Stein, here it is below.  It comes across a little less hopeless when you read the entire thing.  I read it as saying they didn't plan to extend the guy they were watching prior to Maxi's injury...BUT Wood has been playing better since said injury:



 Christian Wood's timing has been good. His best stretch as a Dallas Maverick, coinciding with a rash of injuries that led to his unexpected move into the starting lineup, materialized just as Wood became eligible on Christmas Eve for a four-year, $77 million contract extension. 

The Mavericks are 4-2 since announcing that Maxi Kleber will be out indefinitely with a hamstring tear and Wood has averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in a bump up to 33.3 minutes per game over those six games (five as a starter). 

The opposition hasn't been the strongest — and the consistent signals emanating from Dallas leading up to this surge have suggested that an extension is unlikely — but Wood has had some encouraging moments on D. Dallas' defensive-minded coaching staff was previously reluctant to play Wood without Kleber as his frontcourt sidekick, given that the Mavericks allowed 106.2 points per 100 possessions when they were on the floor together through Dec. 12. Wood’s defensive rating without Kleber at his side over the same span: 120.7 points per 100 possessions. Since Dec. 14, Wood’s defensive rating without Kleber next to him has improved to 110.5 points per 100 possessions.