The Mavericks’ upgraded their starting lineup with their trade for Christian Wood, a center that almost certainly is better than anybody they could have unearthed with the 26th pick in Thursday night’s draft.
By sending their draft choice and a package of role players to the Houston Rockets for the 6-10 Wood, the Mavericks got the equivalent of a lottery pick, one that can rebound, score, shoot from the perimeter and block shots.
The deal, agreed to last week, was not allowed to become official until after the Mavericks’ picked Wendell Moore Jr.