In! I'm calling it now, Mavs 2023 champs on top of a Luka 42/11/8 performance in game 7 in Dallas!

Dwight Powell is due for a breakout season.

Page juan!

There any chance we can get a Yr 1 impact player in the draft?

PatAg said:

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There any chance we can get a Yr 1 impact player in the draft?

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I bet we can find a Tyrell Terry caliber guy!

PatAg said:

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There any chance we can get a Yr 1 impact player in the draft?

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Haha there's always a chance, but the odds are pretty slim. The Nuggets got Bones Hylund last year at #26 who was a pretty impactful perimeter defender. Bulls also got a 2nd rd gem in Ayo Dosunmu who helped keep them afloat while they were ravaged by injuries. Cam Thomas for the Nets at pick #27 had some moments of real impact. But that's basically it in terms of late selected rookies contributing to playoff teams.

And to be honest with you, I'm not sure either of those 3 guys would have gotten the PT they did had their teams been healthy.

So basically...it's possible to find impactful rookies, but it's even harder to draft impactful rookies who can carve out meaningful minutes without injuries.

I'm in. Champs this year. Calling it now.

gomerschlep said:

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I'm in. Champs this year. Calling it now.

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Luka MVP too.

Dallas is acquiring Christian Wood from Houston and sending the No. 26 overall pick to the Rockets, along with multiple players, sources said. https://t.co/fbxxAL7OGu

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2022

Sources: The Mavericks are sending Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss and the No. 26 pick to the Rockets for Christian Wood. https://t.co/fbxxAL7OGu

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2022

At least Boban stays in Texas.

Intriguing. Not giving up much so it's worth a shot. I know he's talented on offense, but what's his defense like? I haven't seen him play much.

I'd much prefer someone like Myles Turner. But even if his defense and rebounding aren't great, it's worth a shot bc we aren't giving up much and he's talented and will take minutes away from Powell. Just hope he doesn't whine if we don't post him up. I've heard he has some character issues.

This reaction seems…positive. Don't know much about Wood but I did see the DallasBasketball guys saying he doesn't bring much to the table on defense. Curious what the Mavs plan to do with those extra roster spots:

Is this the whole trade? What else did the rockets get? Wait that’s it? https://t.co/pFRSVEyDNG

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) June 16, 2022

*Goes over to the Rockets thread to see their reaction.....*

Didn't see this coming. On paper it seems good. Trading a bunch of guys who don't play for a starter.

I do love Boban.

Trading Boban's bench play for a guy that can get on the floor.

This was basically a trade for the 26th pick only. I don't expect any of those players the Mavs gave up to stick with Houston (including Boban - who could end up back in Dallas anyways).

Overall this is a good move for dallas if for these 2 reasons:
- The 26th pick was not going to impact the team next year.
- Freed up 3 roster spots.

C Wood has his issues (professionalism, focus/motor, decision making), but he's obviously more talented than any C currently on the Mavs roster. Besides that, his play style fits like a glove on this team. This is a guy who shot 39% from 3 on 5 attempts per game. That number can only improve playing next to Luka. And that's to say nothing about his raw athleticism to catch lob dunks. Like offensively, he has a ton of versatility.

This is a good move for Nico and if Wood can keep his head on straight and stay healthy, there's almost no reason he won't flourish next to luka.

Love the trade. Real head scratcher for the Houston side of it

Pls get rid of Powell now

zgolfz85 said:

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Love the trade. Real head scratcher for the Houston side of it

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I think they wanted to get rid of him at all costs so took what seems like a somewhat low offer. I saw a tweet saying that the agents of multiple lottery picks made it known that they did not want their players playing with Wood.

Plus, he's an expiring contract so probably not a ton of value on the trade market, even though he's talented.

Quote:

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I saw a tweet saying that the agents of multiple lottery picks made it known that they did not want their players playing with Wood.

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Why?

mavsfan4ever said:

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zgolfz85 said:

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Love the trade. Real head scratcher for the Houston side of it

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I think they wanted to get rid of him at all costs so took what seems like a somewhat low offer. I saw a tweet saying that the agents of multiple lottery picks made it known that they did not want their players playing with Wood.

Plus, he's an expiring contract so probably not a ton of value on the trade market, even though he's talented.

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- I don't believe the bolded part. Wood is a bit of a head case but he's not some phantom menace lol
- Expiring contracts have a ton of value. Especially on buy low, young, versatile players like Wood. I think alot of teams would have paid the same price the Mavs did for a shot at rehabbing Wood.

He's a bit of a head case. I think I heard a story about him refusing to sub into a game a few months ago. He's talented, but there's a reason why he's about to be on his 7th team In 8 seasons

Just relaying what the tweet said. Guess they could just be making it up, but I wouldn't blame an agent for not wanting a top 5 pick playing with Wood bc he's known to be a headcase and wouldn't be a great influence on a rookie.

And maybe some other teams would have given up what Dallas did. But no one was willing to give up more, or the rockets would have taken the better deal.

He's only available for this cheap price bc of his character and effort issues. But it's worth the gamble, considering we ar e basically giving up nothing. So the only gamble is the personality/character fit with the team, and hopefully Kidd can take care of that.

Just another data point. Houston beat writer.

Couple things worth noting about the Christian Wood era: He was a standup guy in an unbelievably tough two-season stretch, and he should flourish with the Mavs.

Also, would be cool if the Rockets hang on to Boban, if only to get all those young kids to use their coasters.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) June 16, 2022

Rockets fan opinion on Christian Wood:
First I'll say that I'm happy to be done with him. He was never going to be a useful player for the Rockets. The environment in Houston was not conducive to bring out his potential. We needed some return for him and I think the Mavs were one of the few teams willing to give a FRP at this point in time. The Rockets need flexibility now to try to move up in the draft and its clear he isn't meshing with the team.

He is a very very talented player. When healthy, his combination of size and athleticism is elite. He has played well for the Rockets on several 15 to 20 game stretches. He will get knocked for his defense, but he has had flashes of really good interior defense as a stretch 5. His 3pt shooting numbers are really good, but he is frustratingly streaky and is surprisingly poor from the FT line. He got tons of rebounds for the Rockets, but many of them were uncontested (an advantage of being a stretch 5 in drop PNR coverage).

In order for him to reach his full potential, he needs two things: 1) Health. He is prone to lower body injuries. He likes to drive into the paint and he endures a bunch of awkward landings. He is very thin. 2) Accountability. He needs to understand his role and play with discipline. Rockets fans will often complain about his desire to bring the ball up the court. He can dribble just fine, but he isn't really a creator so the entire process is wasteful. He needs to realize he isn't afforded the same license of freedom as Giannis or Lebron. He needs to be a cog, not a motor. As a result, he doesn't mesh well with his teammates because of his desire to showcase his own abilities.

I think Dallas is a great fit for him. The team has tasted playoff success and they aren't asking him to be the focal point. I'm fairly certain Luka and Kidd will get him to fall in line and play to his strengths. On his best day, he can play D and be a 20/10 inside/outside threat. The price was very cheap to test drive the Wood experience.

I'm interested to see how it plays out. He could be the missing piece to a great team...or he might be a diva and sink the ship.

zgolfz85 said:

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Love the trade. Real head scratcher for the Houston side of it

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Apparently the agents for Paolo/Chet etc didn't want wood on that roster. Opens up the roster so we can start Chet/Paolo and sengun while also get some minutes for Kj Martin and Garuba.

Haha no I know, I'm just saying if there's one player on the Houston roster that agents would t want to mix with their clients, it's KPJ not Wood.

Maybe Houston will waive boban and he can come back home. Or maybe he can retire and join the coaching staff. Really going to miss him