With the NBA trade deadline set to expire at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Mavericks' big man Christian Wood knows there's a chance his time with the organization could be nearing its end, but he's hoping that isn't the case.
At the team's shootaround on Monday morning in Salt Lake City ahead of their matchup against the Utah Jazz, Wood spoke with reporters about his name being brought up in trade discussions.
“You try and stay off social media as much as possible, try and lock in, stay with the team,” Wood said, via Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News. “Talking to Jason Kidd, Nico [Harrison] as much as possible, see what their plans are for the future. Go from there.”
Wood was then asked what he was told during those conversations with the front office?
“Nothing,” Wood reportedly said with a smile. “I hope I’m not traded.”
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas attempted to send Wood to the Nets in the deal that sent All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks. But Brooklyn balked and insisted on Mavs small forward Dorian Finney-Smith being included in the deal, which he was in the agreed upon trade.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Wood, who is set to hit free agency this summer, has been offered an extension to remain in Dallas but it hasn't been accepted to this point.
As for what the parameters of the contract look like, Charania didn't say. But it's logical to assume that the Mavs offered an extension similar to the offer ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported in December they were comfortable making the big man, which was a two-year pact worth around $36 million.
Wood was also asked what he thought about Kyrie Irving coming to Dallas, and reiterated his hope to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
“I like it,” Wood said, “but I hope I’m still here.”
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