The Rockets are trading Christian Wood to the Mavericks for Boban Marjanovic, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss and the No. 26 overall draft pick, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Wood will become a free agent at the end of next season and the Rockets have been gauging the market for a partner. The Mavericks, meanwhile, have actively been seeking a center and had been linked to the Jazz’s Rudy Gobert and Suns’ Deandre Ayton. The acquisition of Wood will put an end to that talk.
Wood, 26, is 6-foot-10 and just completed his second season in Houston, averaging 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds in 68 games, starting all but one. He has also spent time with the Pistons, Pelicans, Bucks, Hornets and 76ers.
Now, he will team with Luka Doncic and others as the Mavs aim to build off their run to the Western Conference finals.
As for the Rockets, they are receiving a fairly massive return, and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. While none of the players coming their way move the needle much individually, all can serve as assets in future trades or salary-cap maneuvering. Some could stick as well.
As Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle relayed via a source, dealing Wood will also help the Rockets “ease some of the glut” at center and power forward.
Marjanovic, 33, is 7-3 and appeared in 23 games last season, compiling averages of 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Brown, 27, is 6-5 and appeared in 49 games, averaging 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds. He is the brother of former NBA guard Shannon Brown.
Chriss, 24, is 6-9 and appeared in 34 games after first signing a 10-day deal, then for the remainder of the season in January. Burke, 29, is 6-0 appeared in 42 games, averaging 5.1 points.
The Rockets will now own the Nos. 3, 17 and 26 overall picks in the draft, slated for Thursday, June 23.
Stay tuned to Hoops Wire as this story develops.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
