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

[IamDougieFresh]

When everything is on the line, Kidd and the front office will fold. They will unfairly call on Christian Wood in their moment of need because Dwight and JaShaqtin suck ass. Christian Wood will deliver.

Changed my avatar. I'm all in baby.

[Branduil]

Really hate how much I've been right this year

[cow]

Changed my avatar. I'm all in baby.

I should change my to Monta Ellis in solidarity.

[F Gump]

He's not likely to accept the role or the money that would come with it, but Wood would be another perfect test for my "Kanter as your 6th man" role that could eat against second units.  I'd be surprised if Wood was in the league in three years at this rate.

Wow, I never thought of it before, but Kanter is a GREAT comparison for Wood.

Kanter was always big stats-wise, a big man with lots of points and rebounds (and crappy defense), and he seemed to tease that some team would find the right fit. He got one big 4-year FA contract but after its 1st year his role really shrank -- his lack of defense was too big of an issue, and thereafter he was limited to smaller roles and smaller contracts than the stats might make us think.

Wood is very much in that same track as a player imo.

Eventually Kanter embraced the role of an super-sub and the money that went with it. Under MLE.

Wood may be in that place in terms of what he can offer, and what that means contractually, but not sure he can embrace it. If I'm a team that can't justify giving him what he wants, he's probably dropping off my list entirely, because I have no desire to have to fiddle with an unhappy camper who will frustrate both of us when he doesn't like his role.

[IamDougieFresh]

I should change my to Monta Ellis in solidarity.

[Branduil]

If you're a big man, why would you ever want to sign with the Mavs? The second you make a mistake, you're gonna get benched for Dwight "Coach's Pet" Powell

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Wow, I never thought of it before, but Kanter is a GREAT comparison for Wood.

Kanter was always big stats-wise, a big man with lots of points and rebounds (and crappy defense), and he seemed to tease that some team would find the right fit. He got one big 4-year FA contract but after its 1st year his role really shrank -- his lack of defense was too big of an issue, and thereafter he was limited to smaller roles and smaller contracts than the stats might make us think.

Wood is very much in that same track as a player imo.

Eventually Kanter embraced the role of an super-sub and the money that went with it. Under MLE.

Wood may be in that place in terms of what he can offer, and what that means contractually, but not sure he can embrace it. If I'm a team that can't justify giving him what he wants, he's probably dropping off my list entirely, because I have no desire to have to fiddle with an unhappy camper who will frustrate both of us when he doesn't like his role.

Kanter would still have a role on a team possibly, but his political views, conspiracy theories, and mouth got him bounced out of the league.

[omahen]

I am not so much concerned about Wood role. I agree a defense at the position is much more needed than offense. What I don't understand is why Mavs didn't trade him at TDL. Was there really no market for him? Were they considering adding remaining picks and still no decent option was there? Was there not a trade with Utah to be had with that pick (like Vando and Beasley)? Mavs still basically have a team of one-way specialists.

[JamesConway912]

Would be another blunder in terms of asset management if he truly walks in FA.

Brunson
potentially Wood 
potentially Irving

If all that happens it would be inexcusable and impossible to recover from. I REALLY hope they are better than this. You at least have to keep Irving now, preferably also Wood given all the draft picks and players they’ve burned on these moves. 

But I’m also sure a lot of Wood‘s appeal was his contract situation. They can clear a lot of money if he’s off the payroll.

[Chicagojk]

I am not so much concerned about Wood role. I agree a defense at the position is much more needed than offense. What I don't understand is why Mavs didn't trade him at TDL. Was there really no market for him? Were they considering adding remaining picks and still no decent option was there? Was there not a trade with Utah to be had with that pick (like Vando and Beasley)? Mavs still basically have a team of one-way specialists.

Yeah, I would be really curious to hear what level of discussions the Mavs had about Wood with teams.  It would also be fascinating to hear what they really thought about him as well.   

I will maintain that I am not sold on Wood long term while also saying he should get more playing time.    While I can understand Kidd trying to get Wood on good matchups.  I can certainly understand if Wood would feel frustration not only losing his starting spot to Powell but then also not being the first center off the bench.   While McGee had a few decent games, I think that may be a mirage.    I just don't know if he is a guy who is going to be productive in playoff minutes.    

If feels like Kidd thinks Powell was one of the main reasons for our regular season defense was good last year and is trying everything to recapture that.  It isn't working this year.  That is not a knock on Powell but on the team as a whole.  But if our center rotation consists of Powell, Wood & McGee, then I say ride with the guy with the highest upside.   Maybe it doesn't work at all and blows up, but I don't think any of the other  center options are earth changing either.   Even if we have decided Wood is not in our long term plans.

[Mavs2021]

Would be another blunder in terms of asset management if he truly walks in FA.

Brunson
potentially Wood 
potentially Irving

If all that happens it would be inexcusable and impossible to recover from. I REALLY hope they are better than this. You at least have to keep Irving now, preferably also Wood given all the draft picks and players they’ve burned on these moves. 

But I’m also sure a lot of Wood‘s appeal was his contract situation. They can clear a lot of money if he’s off the payroll.

Pretty sure all the scrubs were expiring this season, too. Just seems like another miscalculation, where they did not value the 1st round pick and instead made a short-sighted decision (with no long-term strategy behind the trade as usual) and will have nothing to show for it in the end. Houston obviously jumped on it. As we learned now, that you cannot give away Wood, if you tried. We paid a 1st round pick for it.

....and the truly bizarre part is that they already knew Wood PERSONALLY from WORKING WITH HIM. Just like they knew McGee. Imagine you are being such a trash evaluator that you worked with a person for months and still can´t judge their personality and talent properly. Most people can fake 2-3 interviews to get hired, but nobody can fake months of work ethic and personality.

EDIT: Real reason for the trade was probably that they tried to take some heat of the in-coming Brunson departure: "Yeah we lost Brunson, but we gained Wood"  and if Brunson had flopped in New York, they sure have let you know about it. How they decided to let him walk and he was never any good, which was pretty much the immediate response of the Mavs fanatics wanking themselves into Bolivia over McGee´s three year contract. Too bad Brunson turned into a 26 year old All-Star.

[Chicagojk]

Pretty sure all the scrubs were expiring this season, too. Just seems like another miscalculation, where they did not value the 1st round pick and instead made a short-sighted decision (with no long-term strategy behind the trade as usual) and will have nothing to show for it in the end. Houston obviously jumped on it. As we learned now, that you cannot give away Wood, if you tried. We paid a 1st round pick for it.

....and the truly bizarre part is that they already knew Wood PERSONALLY from WORKING WITH HIM. Just like they knew McGee. Imagine you are being such a trash evaluator that you worked with a person for months and still can´t judge their personality and talent properly. Most people can fake 2-3 interviews to get hired, but nobody can fake months of work ethic and personality.

EDIT: Real reason for the trade was probably that they tried to take some heat of the in-coming Brunson departure: "Yeah we lost Brunson, but we gained Wood"  and if Brunson had flopped in New York, they sure have let you know about it. How they decided to let him walk and he was never any good, which was pretty much the immediate response of the Mavs fanatics wanking themselves into Bolivia over McGee´s three year contract. Too bad Brunson turned into a 26 year old All-Star.

One of my biggest issues with the new front office is the lack of creativity in most of their moves.    That may be unfair after such a big trade, but taking each FA signing, trade, two way move separately, most of them leave me feeling  .   

I look at Morey in Philly and while he is not perfect, I look at most of his moves and see a vision or creativity.    Besides the Hardy move, I really can't think of a move that have given me this feeling.   Look at a lot of our moves and would you think that is a move Morey, Ainge, or the other top front offices would make?  They all have egg on their face in some moves, but the Mavs haven't inspired a lot of confidence to me.

[omahen]

One of my biggest issues with the new front office is the lack of creativity in most of their moves.

That was also true for the previous FO, at least in the "Luka days".

[dirkfansince1998]

One of my biggest issues with the new front office is the lack of creativity in most of their moves.    That may be unfair after such a big trade, but taking each FA signing, trade, two way move separately, most of them leave me feeling  .   

I look at Morey in Philly and while he is not perfect, I look at most of his moves and see a vision or creativity.    Besides the Hardy move, I really can't think of a move that have given me this feeling.   Look at a lot of our moves and would you think that is a move Morey, Ainge, or the other top front offices would make?  They all have egg on their face in some moves, but the Mavs haven't inspired a lot of confidence to me.

I think vision is they key issue. Still don´t see a concept for longterm roster building. As @"omahen" stated earlier. At some point they mentioned the need for length and defense next to Luka. Not sure what happened but they did the direct opposite. Mavs are smaller and worse on defense.

[Scott41theMavs]

....and the truly bizarre part is that they already knew Wood PERSONALLY from WORKING WITH HIM. Just like they knew McGee. Imagine you are being such a trash evaluator that you worked with a person for months and still can´t judge their personality and talent properly. Most people can fake 2-3 interviews to get hired, but nobody can fake months of work ethic and personality.

This paragraph deserves a Mavsboard Pulitzer.

[F Gump]

1 What I don't understand is why Mavs didn't trade him at TDL. Was there really no market for him? 2 Were they considering adding remaining picks and still no decent option was there?.

Apparently there was no demand at the TDL for Wood, in relative terms. You can get rid of anyone just to get rid of them, but it makes no sense if you don't get something in return that you need.

Adding an unprotected FRP just to get someone to take him off their hands? That would be absurd. He's expiring and will be gone in a few months if you want him gone.

Adding an unprotected FRP for a player of value coming back the other way? That's really just using Wood as trade filler, and the selling point is the pick. It still isn't yielding actual value for Wood himself. Re Beasley-Vando, I certainly wouldn't have given an unprotected FRP for that pair. Vanderbilt was a player I would have wanted, but not for an unprotected FRP for him, and Beasley is about the same player as THJ other than the length of the contract, so I don't see value in adding another.

[F Gump]

This paragraph deserves a Mavsboard Pulitzer.

"the truly bizarre part is that they already knew Wood PERSONALLY from WORKING WITH HIM"

You quote and applaud this, but I don't understand what it's talking about. Is it saying 'The Mavs knew everything there is to know about Wood before trading for him'? If so, how?

From where I look at things, there's no question that the Wood Experiment is looking like a big whiff. And I am left to wonder -- Did they pay a FRP (or most of its value, anyhow) mainly to clean up the bottom of their roster, with Wood just an experiment they hoped to get a bit of side value from?

[Mavs2021]

"the truly bizarre part is that they already knew Wood PERSONALLY from WORKING WITH HIM"

You quote and applaud this, but I don't understand what it's talking about. Is it saying 'The Mavs knew everything there is to know about Wood before trading for him'? If so, how?

From where I look at things, there's no question that the Wood Experiment is looking like a big whiff. And I am left to wonder -- Did they pay a FRP (or most of its value, anyhow) mainly to clean up the bottom of their roster, with Wood just an experiment they hoped to get a bit of side value from?

He played Summer League for the Mavs.

[DanSchwartzgan]

He played Summer League for the Mavs.

And played for Sweeney in Detroit during his break out season.

[F Gump]

So does this mean they couldn't read the book that had already been given to them? Or had he evolved into a much different player since those earlier days?

He had gotten paid handsomely since all that, and for some players that's a tipping point where they go sideways. Or stop working on their weaknesses. Or loaf/daydream on defense because that's not what they like.

I can see Mavs thinking he will be how he used to be, and then not getting that after all.

It's clear he does have high expectations for the role he expects to be given these days, which presumably he would never have had in SL or in DET.

I don't buy the idea that the Mavs tried to sabotage him, or hate him, or those memes. Or that he's been misused here or not given a chance. There's certainly an opening for a player his size, if they bring what's need to the team.

I'm just guessing, like we all are. We all hoped for better. Doesn't like we'll get it.