Christian Wood, Mavs speaking extension; According to the report, Dallas expects to consider the trade if no deal is reached

The Dallas Mavericks have come alive in recent weeks, and Christian Wood is at the center of that rejuvenation, both literally and figuratively. With Wood in the starting XI, Dallas has now won seven games in a row. He’s averaging over 19 points per game during the streak, and more importantly, he and Luka Doncic’s wins are making him the most dangerous pick-and-roll combo in the NBA. Dallas moved up to No. 4 in the Western Conference during the streak, and now the team is trying to figure out what to do with Wood to move forward.

Wood is eligible for a contract extension. According to Marc Stein, the Mavericks have signed Wood to extension talks but there are still some issues between the two sides and an agreement. The biggest is the overtime rules of the NBA. Wood is only eligible for $77 million over four years because the amount a player is eligible for on renewal is based on their previous salary. Wood’s current contract, originally signed with the Houston Rockets in 2020, is well below market value.

The Mavericks would also appear to prefer a shorter deal, with ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reporting that they would prefer a two-year, $36 million deal. Given his game so far this season, absent such restrictions, any deal could be considered cheap compared to what he could get as a free agent this summer.

But Dallas went through a version of that dilemma with Jalen Brunson a year ago. While circumstances were slightly different, with Dallas dragging its feet and not offering an extension until after the trade deadline, they ultimately failed to offer Brunson a fair deal last season. They lost him to the Knicks for nothing in freehand. Dallas doesn’t seem very keen on letting that happen again with Wood. According to Stein, if an agreement is not reached, the Mavericks will explore the timber trade market.

How seriously they would do so is unclear, especially considering how important Wood is to their squad. It’s also worth noting that Wood’s value was fairly limited when Dallas acquired him for just a late first-round pick last offseason. Wood’s talent has never been questioned, but his attitude and defensive limitations have deterred teams in the past.

An extension, either now or in the off-season, seems to be in everyone’s interest. Dallas just can’t afford to lose another talented player, and Wood is playing the best basketball of his career with the Mavericks. But given the limitations on what type of deal they can offer, as well as what they’re willing to offer, it may be a while before Wood and the Mavericks can agree on a deal.