Luka’s Mavs’ awkward trade dilemma; $173m star drops big hint on split – NBA Rumour Mill

The Mavericks might have their hand compelled to discover a commerce for Christian Wood.

Plus D’Angelo Russell could have dropped a serious trace on his future plans.

Catch up on all the newest whispers in our NBA Rumour Mill!

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MAVS TO EXPLORE WOOD TRADE IF NO EXTENSION REACHED

The Dallas Mavericks will discover the commerce marketplace for Christian Wood if the 2 events can’t agree on a contract extension, in keeping with NBA insider Marc Stein.

Wood, who’s within the closing season of a three-year, $41 million deal he initially signed with the Houston Rockets, can develop into an unrestricted free agent subsequent low season.

Stein stories the Mavs have engaged with the large man on extension talks, nevertheless there stays some obstacles, together with the NBA’s extension guidelines.

Wood is barely eligible for a $77 million deal over 4 years as a result of the quantity a participant can earn relies on their prior wage, along with his present contract properly beneath market worth.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon stories Dallas’ choice is to present Wood a two-year, $36 million pact – though the 27-year outdated might undoubtably get extra on the open market given his present play regardless of earlier questions round his perspective and defensive shortcomings

The Mavericks have gone 6-2 since Wood joined their beginning line-up final month together with a present six-game successful streak to climb into the West’s fourth seed, with the centre averaging 23.2 factors, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.4 triples and three blocks over his final 5 contests.

Dallas confronted the same state of affairs with Jalen Brunson final yr, not providing him an extension till free company and resulting in his $104 million signing with the New York Knicks over 4 seasons the place he’s blossomed in a number one position.

The Mavs wouldn’t need to a repeat of that with Wood, who they acquired from Houston over the low season for a bundle centred round a first-round choose, after he’s grown right into a key a part of their workforce alongside Luka Doncic – a workforce that would already use extra star energy.

Wood himself is in a terrific spot on one of many premier sides within the West, so it’s possible in everybody’s greatest pursuits to achieve an extension. But when, or if, that occurs, is at the moment unclear.

RUSSELL UNFOLLOWS WOLVES TO FURTHER FUEL TRADE RUMOURS

Is this the signal that D’Angelo Russell is on the verge of an exit from the Minnesota Timberwolves?

Russell has probably dropped a serious trace on his future by unfollowing the workforce on social media to additional swirl commerce rumours.

The star guard has been beneath his greatest kind this season for the 18-21 Wolves, who’ve underwhelmed after being touted as a darkish horse to come back out of the Western Conference going into the marketing campaign.

Minnesota at the moment sits eleventh within the Western Conference as its transfer for Rudy Gobert has to date didn’t take them the workforce to the following degree.

In the ultimate season of a four-year, $117 million deal (AUD $173m) as Russell approaches unrestricted free company, the previous All-Star has averaged 16.8 factors per sport and 6.5 assists per contest.

It comes after NBA journalist Brian Windhorst mentioned on his podcast final month the Timberwolves “need a veteran leader” and speculated they may offload on Russell to maneuver in a unique path.

Windhorst additionally speculated the Wolves might attain out to the Miami Heat a few swap for Kyle Lowry, which strains up with rumours that surfaced weeks in the past.

It’ll be one of many massive watches because the NBA hearsay mill continues to warmth up forward of the league’s February 10 commerce deadline (AEDT).