The Dallas Mavericks pick Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets

The Dallas Mavericks pick Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets for the 26th pick in the NBA draft, 4 players

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9:23 p.m. ET

  • Tim MacMahon

    CloseThe Dallas Mavericks pick Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets.png&h=80&w=80&scale=cropESPN Author

    • Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
    • Includes the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
    • Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM

  • Adrian Wojnarowski

    Close1655345088 853 The Dallas Mavericks pick Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets.png&h=80&w=80&scale=cropExperienced NBA insider

    • Host of The Woj Pod
    • With ESPN since 2017

The Dallas Mavericks are acquiring center/power forward Christian Wood from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the No. 26 pick in the 2022 NBA draft and four players on expiring contracts, sources told ESPN.

Dallas will send Boban Marjanovic, Marquese Chriss, Trey Burke and Sterling Brown to Houston, sources said, to create roster flexibility and add a productive big man.

Sources said Houston is motivated to move Wood because the Rockets are looking to open play for 2021 first-rounder Alperen Sengun and likely No. 3 overall. The Rockets took the opportunity to earn a first-round pick without accepting a long-term salary.

Wood, 26, averaged 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds in his two seasons with the Rockets. He is expected to earn $14.3 million for the 2022-23 season, the final year of his contract.

Upgrading at center was one of the Mavs’ main goals before the start of the offseason after their run to the Western Conference Finals.

The Rockets now have picks #3, 17, and 26 in the June 23 draft.