An ESPN report says center and power forward Christian Wood has been acquired by Dallas Mavericks. In return, the Houston Rockets will get the 26th overall selection in the 2022 NBA draft and four players whose contracts have expired.
Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, and Sterling Brown will be traded to Houston. It is all in order to free up space on the roster and bring in an effective big man, according to individuals familiar with the situation.
It was reported that the Rockets wanted to sell Wood to make room for Alperen Sengun, the 2021 first-round selection, and maybe the No. 3 overall pick. By taking advantage of the first-round draft pick trade, the Rockets avoided any future pay commitments.
Christian Wood moves to Mavericks
It’s hard to imagine a better player for the Rockets than Wood, who has been with the team since 2020 and has put up impressive numbers in his first season. His three-year, $41 million contract expires at the end of the season, and he will be available for a new contract six months after the trade is completed.
With James Harden and Russell Westbrook expected to lead the Rockets in scoring in the 2020-21 season, the team hired Wood as a supplement. The duo were both traded before the season began, which left the Rockets in need of a rebuilding effort.
