Wood to Mavs

[ETNCeltics]

This will be his 7th team beginning his 8th season. That's not indicative of a hard-working player, just trying to find a fit.

I'd wager he's not a guy you want in the locker room.

[nickagneta]

Most bigs can either roll to the basket or pop for 3. For instance, Porzingis is a popper, not a roller. Dwight Powell is a roller, not a popper. Wood can do both. He can even put the ball on the floor a little bit and create his own shot. Amazing deal for the Mavs! Luka got his PnR/PnP mate.

I don't see Wood and Luka getting along. I also see Wood being moved before the trade deadline because of that relationship.

I see Luka elevating Wood's game similarly to how CP3 elevated Ayton's game in Phoenix. Wouldn't be surprised if Wood were in the conversation for the All-Star game next season. Wood is an elite PnR big. He was scoring 1.50 PPP as a roll man prior to joining the Rockets which was ranking in the 95th percentile. He's also a reliable PnP option averaging 38% from 3 on 3.3 attempts per game throughout his career. Not his fault that the Rockets lack a PnR ball handler. Kevin Porter Jr. is a knucklehead who only cares about his own stats. Fwiw, Wood was absolutely killing it alongside Harden in the few games they played together prior to his trade to the Nets.

All said and good but doesn't address the situation I brought up. Will they get along and co-exist?

Wood is a locker room cancer and difficult to keep happy on the court. There are stories that Luka isn't always the easiest guy to get along with either. If Luka isn't giving Wood the space to shine or not passing him the ball enough, there will be tension. There will be words. And like Zinger, Wood will then be gone.

[Moranis]

This will be his 7th team beginning his 8th season. That's not indicative of a hard-working player, just trying to find a fit.

I'd wager he's not a guy you want in the locker room.

Or maybe it is for a guy that had to fight tooth and nail to even make the league.  Undrafted kid makes the Sixers who liked him so much after two 10 day contracts they signed him for the rest of year, but when they left the 10 win season to try to win he was a roster spot casualty since he wasn't ready to really contribute.  Spends next season in Charlotte and still isn't ready and is out of the league for a season.  Comes back and is a bench guy on the Bucks before they cut him at the trade deadline as a roster casualty and the Pelicans pick him up off waivers.  Gets a real opportunity as a 24 year old in Detroit and excels before leaving Detroit for a bigger money contract in Houston where he has continued to play well.  18/10 players that shoot 39% from 3 don't grow on trees.  He doesn't really fit the Houston rebuild and I suspect he would leave at the end of next season, so Houston got a 1st rounder for him now rather than letting him walk at the end of next season.   

[Who]

Wood feels like a funny fit on that team to me.

Ideally he'd be a bench player change of tempo guy but I don't think he'd be happy in that role.

I feel like Dallas gains a lot from having Finney Smith next to Luka at forward in terms of having an athletic committed disciplined defender next to him. Wood is not that. He is an erratic defender who is capable of making plays but lacks focus and effort.

I also like what Powell brings as an undersized center who has more muscle and scrappiness / toughness than Wood has. That Wood makes them too soft on the interior. That Dallas needs Powell's muscle to compete.

I still feel Wood's best role on a team is a starting PF 2nd unit C where he splits his court time 50:50 or 40:60 between the two different positions. That he is not truly one or the other. Instead he is a combo whose specific strengths & weaknesses need to be carefully managed in order to maximize his value. A player who is stuck in between two positions rather than being master of both. Someone that has to be managed.

I do love the idea of Dallas' 2nd units with Wood at center next to Luka and 3 perimeter shooters. Those will be impossible to defend against.