NBA free agency is right around the corner, and fans of teams that have already been eliminated are surely eager for the offseason to begin. Some teams are better positioned for free agency than others, but each team is trying to get better, whether in the long term or in the short term.
Although this year’s free agency class isn’t as star-studded as in years past, teams looking for a starting center could be in luck. In fact, there are six starting-caliber centers on the market. With that being said, let’s take a look at the best centers available in free agency this summer.
NBA Free Agent Center #6: Christian Wood
Dallas Mavericks center Christian Wood is a player to watch this summer. Wood has been a highly productive player in all seven of his NBA stops, including Dallas, but he has failed to secure a long-term deal, and the Mavericks reportedly aren’t going to be the team that gives him one. The Mavericks’ willingness to let such a talented player walk in free agency after they failed to make the playoffs may give other teams pause, and he might not find the big contract that he’s seeking.
Bad teams tend to be the ones who have cap space, and at 27, he probably doesn’t fit many of those franchise’s timelines, not to mention that it could hurt their ability to tank. Meanwhile, most playoff teams only have the tax-payer mid-level exception to offer, which is only $7 million, if at all. That could potentially put him in a rock and a hard place.
Perhaps he would take a one-year deal from a contender like the Golden State Warriors or the Miami Heat to try and increase his value. Or, his next team could work out a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks. That would allow them to pay him more, Wood to sign at least a 3-year contract, and Dallas to recoup some value from him. Wood isn’t a perfect player, but on the right team, he could be a real asset.