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

[SleepingHero]

He finally showed what he could do but he didn't really fit their timeline so they traded him to Houston right before they blew it up, Wood's attitude soured a lot after that because he wanted to win and he initially thought he was going to get a chance at that in Houston. Wood handled Kidd's mistreatment of him very professionally because this was the best team he'd been on with a real role. 

Going to play devil's advocate here...

Should Wood depart this summer (and it's likely he will if Cato is to be believed), is the 3 teams in 4 years since he's gotten a real shot any better than 7 teams in 8 years...? 

This was supposed to be Wood's chance playing on a supposed playoff team with a guy who could make his life easy. He exasperated how excited he was to play on a winning team. So far this team is injury riddled and .500 with the worst defense in the league. We've seen the Luka-Wood combo and it's a lethal weapon on offense. Wood is a fantastic offensive player and no one is denying that. Yet Kidd doesn't play him. Wood has more talent than any other big on the roster, yet can't break 25mpg. At some point a trend isn't just a trend and it just is.  Wood is a great, but flawed, player that fills a niche role (that he doesn't want to play) on a winning team. 

The Mavs failed to find a trade for an 18ppg offensive powered big where many teams were looking to buy. Expiring status definitely didn't play a role here, as all these guys got moved regardless of their impending FA: Josh Hart, Mason Plumlee, Jae Crowder, Thomas Bryant, D'Lo, Poeltl, Rui, Thybulle. 

Wood is better than almost all of those guys. That should say something on what the league (and other head coaches who definitely talk to each other) think about Wood and what he brings.