https://marcstein.substack.com/p/please-nba-no-more-tampering-investigations Christian Wood's timing has been good. His best stretch as a Dallas Maverick, coinciding with a rash of injuries that led to his unexpected move into the starting lineup, materialized just as Wood became eligible on Christmas Eve for a four-year, $77 million contract extension. The Mavericks are 4-2 since announcing that Maxi Kleber will be out indefinitely with a hamstring tear and Wood has averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in a bump up to 33.3 minutes per game over those six games (five as a starter). The opposition hasn't been the strongest — and the consistent signals emanating from Dallas leading up to this surge have suggested that an extension is unlikely — but Wood has had some encouraging moments on D. Dallas' defensive-minded coaching staff was previously reluctant to play Wood without Kleber as his frontcourt sidekick, given that the Mavericks allowed 106.2 points per 100 possessions when they were on the floor together through Dec. 12. Wood’s defensive rating without Kleber at his side over the same span: 120.7 points per 100 possessions. Since Dec. 14, Wood’s defensive rating without Kleber next to him has improved to 110.5 points per 100 possessions.
Tim MacMahon said on Lowe podcast few days ago that a 4 year extension is very unlikely, because Dallas doesn't want to get a long term contract in the way of future team building. When that comes from a team that signed an old McGee to 18M/3y and doesn't play him at all; from a team that didn't want to pay Brunson 55/4 and then let him go for nothing; from a team that inserted Wood into starting lineup only because of injuries - that sounds concerning. Wood has been very good as a starting center. He still has some issues on defense, mainly ones concerning effort, and the biggest fear is his effort would wane with a new contract. That's probably the reason MacMahon thinks Dallas will give him a 2-3 year offer with approximately 18M/per year. However, Luka and Wood are developing good chemistry together. To take another teammate he likes from him again - maybe that would have consequences. Unless Dallas replaces Wood with another good player. There have been talks about LaVine trade to Dallas.
The Dallas Mavericks have commenced dialogue on a contract extension with big man Christian Wood, league sources tell The Stein Line. Wood became eligible for an extension on Christmas Eve. The window for a deal technically lasts until June 30, with a four-year extension worth just shy of $77 million representing the maximum Wood can earn, but a resolution is realistically required much sooner as the Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches. Whether the Mavericks and Wood ultimately come to terms on a new deal remains unclear, with Dallas considered unlikely to offer a pact that spans the full four years. Yet sources say that the Mavericks have reaffirmed in recent days that they hope to retain the 27-year-old — depending on whether the sides can agree on years and deal structure. [...] If the Mavericks can't come to terms with Wood on a new contract, they are widely expected to explore the trade market for him before the league's Feb. 9 trade deadline to prevent exposing themselves to the loss of another productive player without compensation on the heels of Jalen Brunson’s free-agent departure to New York. The Rockets, though, found that market limited until Dallas’ interest emerged before the draft. Currently in the final season of a three-year, $41 million deal he signed with Houston entering the 2020-21 season, Wood would become a free agent on June 30 without an in-season extension. [...] Asked on Christmas by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon about a possible extension, Wood said: "I’m happy to be here. That’s what I’ll say. The vibe is good. … I’m open to it." Asked if he’s insisting on a four-year extension, Wood said: "I can’t answer that."
