Christian Wood has averaged 19.2 minutes per game since the NBA trade deadline, a shocking change for the starting center of the team through a 7-game winning streak in December.
Jason Kidd recently said that Wood’s minutes have been subdued due to the Mavericks’ big-man depth, but it seems Wood agrees with something Draymond Green said about NBA teams trying to suppress the contract value of players on expiring contracts.
HMMMMMMMM… pic.twitter.com/HrJzFAUyey
— coopz (@Coopz___) March 12, 2023
“If you actually understood the business, your outlook on it will be totally different. You’ll see certain things going on, you’ll better understand them. You’ll better understand the guy’s rotations, like all of a sudden, this guy isn’t playing because he’s in a contract year and the team wants to lower his number and get away with it.”
https://twitter.com/MavsOutsiders/status/1634421435887124480
What’s funnier is that Green said this to JaVale McGee, one of Woods’ teammates on the Mavericks.
Given how Jalen Brunson’s contract value shot up last season before he left for the New York Knicks, the Mavericks may be trying to ensure that doesn’t happen again. Jason Kidd took pride in getting Brunson paid, but the Mavs’ approach with Christian Wood seems to head in the opposite direction.
Now that’s very very verrrry interesting
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) March 12, 2023
This could all be in vain because it seems Wood doesn’t get along with Jason Kidd and the Mavs may have ultimately lowered his value enough for him to go on a cheap contract elsewhere, or even to a rival team on a team-friendly deal.
Is Christian Wood Being Intentionally Kept On The Bench?
The big-man rotation that Jason Kidd claimed is making it hard for Wood to get minutes is primarily Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber. Even if Kleber has a reason to play big minutes due to his defensive impact, Wood definitely needs to play over Powell if the Mavericks want to contend this season. Even if Wood is their sixth man, he needs to play in late-game situations.
This makes no sense. What depth? Christian Wood has his flaws but he's much better than the limited minutes he's suddenly receiving. What's going on in Dallas? https://t.co/IwFdqXhIHj
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) March 12, 2023
Jalen Brunson leaving them affected the Mavs deeply, but trying to limit the guy they traded a first-round pick for isn’t making sense. He isn’t a perfect player, with pretty gaping defensive flaws, but he’s easily the third-best scorer on the Mavs when given the opportunity. At this rate, the Mavs will most likely lose him for nothing in the summer and have to find a way to improve their team with limited cap space.
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