Sometimes, our reputation can precede us. If you were a troublemaker in school, you know what we’re talking about. Sometimes, you actually didn’t do it. Your teacher is likely to assume that you did anyway. NBA players can suffer from the same pitfall.
For example, once a player becomes known as a defensive liability, that can be it for them – that reputation will stick with them, even if they work to overcome it.
That may be the case for Christian Wood of the Dallas Mavericks. As talented as he is, he’s been cast as a ball hog and a lazy defender.
This season, he’s been playing some pretty good basketball for the Mavs. However, he is playing on an expiring contract, and the extensions may make it challenging to keep him.
If the Mavs decide to move on from Wood at the midseason trade deadline after their contract talks, one team that could use the shooting upgrade is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Could they send him to the Lakers anyway?
