Mavericks pick up Christian Wood from Rockets to help Luka Doncic

The Mavericks have long needed more help around Luka Doncic and they made a deal to do just that by landing the Rockets’ Christian Wood.

Look at the… Dallas Mavericks In the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the outcry from the fans was clear: Luka Doncic needs more help for this team to really exist. Sure, the organization made some efforts before with the likes of Kristaps Porzingis, but the end result was far from what was desired.

Now they’re trying again early this offseason.

On Wednesday night, Stadium and The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Mavs and the Houston Rockets are inching a deal that will send big man Christian Wood to Dallas.

In exchange, the Rockets will get Dallas’ first-round pick in 2022 and a bevy of players to help make the deal’s salary cap work.

Wood has excelled in the last two seasons with Houston, averaging 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 30.8 minutes in 68 games last year. He has proven himself to be a versatile and valuable great man. But with that in mind, let’s look at this deal for both teams and hand out grades to see who won the deal.

Who won the trade between Christian Wood Mavericks and Rockets?

received Mavericks

Christian Holz

received rockets

26th choice (2022 NBA draft)

Boban Marjanovic

Sterling Brown

Trey Burke

The Rockets also received Marquese Chriss in the trade.

Dallas Mavericks commercial grade: A

Getting Doncic’s help to take Dallas to new heights was an obvious priority for the organization this offseason, but doing so makes the move even better.

In recent years we’ve seen the emergence of guys like Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber for the Mavericks with their ability to capitalize on the space Doncic can create and finish on the edge. Wood offers that, but not only better and more effectively as a scorer, but also with the ability to create his own shot a little more and generally do more with the ball in his hands. Also, he is in a year of contract, which always motivates the players a lot.

Additionally, the Mavs are also cleaning up their roster a bit to make more moves this offseason without the potential, for lack of better wording, to overload the depth chart. They parted ways with players who weren’t key to their future and a late first-round pick. Getting Wood for it is a big win for Dallas.

Houston Rockets Commercial Class: B-

There’s a world where you could look at what Houston did in this trade and be unhappy. But when you zoom out a little on the larger plan for the franchise, it’s hard not to be at least mildly optimistic about the trade.

The Rockets are currently in no position to compete or fight, which would certainly end their chances of re-signing Wood next offseason when he becomes a free agent. So they get something in exchange for a player they would probably lose in a year. In the process, however, they’re also picking up some roleplayers who could potentially show them something in expanded roles with this franchise, and collecting another first-round pick to add to their treasure trove of draft assets.

It may not be the prettiest trade for the Rockets, but it’s one that serves their larger purpose and shows some skill given their long-term prospects.