The Dallas Mavericks have been flying high over the last month, overcoming a 5-7 start to the season by going 12-2 in their last 14 games. They’re the No. 4 seed and seem to have all the right pieces to return to the NBA Finals this season. But there are slight holes on the roster that the team would like to patch during this season, which is why the team has been one of the linked teams for a potential Jimmy Butler trade.
The Mavericks and the Houston Rockets are two Texas teams who have been linked with Butler, while other West franchises like the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns are also hot on the trail for the star. If push comes to shove, there really isn’t a way to imagine the Mavericks outbidding a team like the Warriors for Butler given they have fewer tradeable assets and a smaller need for a player like Heat star.
Jimmy Butler’s $49 million contract will be very hard for the Mavericks to accommodate alongside the massive contracts Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are on without giving up most of their depth, which would be foolish given their success with their current formula.
Even with the three highest-paid players outside the star backcourt, the Mavericks can’t make up enough money to cover Butler’s salary. Alongside, Klay Thompson ($15.8 million), PJ Washington ($15.5 million), and Daniel Gafford ($13.3 million), the Mavs will also need to include Maxi Kleber ($11.0 million) to make room for Butler and three minimum-level players from the Heat.
The Mavericks could add a 2025 first-round pick in a package for Jimmy Butler, but to be honest, their trade offer can’t beat the Warriors and Rockets’ packages.
Sending out that much depth for a 35-year-old makes no sense, so the Mavericks’ interest in Butler is almost guaranteed to be fruitless as there’s no sensible route to making this work without the team’s chemistry being nuked.
As a result, the Mavericks should turn to new targets to reinforce their frontcourt.
Dorian Finney-Smith
Most Mavericks fans would list Dorian Finney-Smith as the No. 1 option on their target list, but that also might be due to sentimental reasons. Finney-Smith became an NBA mainstay on the Mavericks, spending seven seasons with the franchise after being an undrafted gem, and was a fan favorite throughout his time with the franchise.
Many Mavs fans thought he would never be traded but the opportunity to acquire Kyrie Irving was far too big for the Mavs to ignore in 2023. After two seasons on the Brooklyn Nets, it’s clear Finney-Smith should return to a contending franchise. He’s averaging 11.0 points and 4.3 rebounds on 45.0% shooting from three while making $14.9 million, a salary mark most contenders can easily afford.
It’d be ideal for Finney-Smith to return to the franchise that gave him his current contract in the first place, as the Mavericks would love to have Finney-Smith to fill the hole at backup power forward instead of being an overmatched key starter like he was in his last stint with the franchise. This might lead to the trade of another franchise veteran Maxi Kleber alongside sophomore Olivier Maxence-Propser.
The Mavericks will try to avoid having to give up a pick after aggressive moves over the last three seasons. At best, a first-round pick swap might head out to bring this franchise favorite back home to the team that actively helped him free his father from wrongful incarceration.
Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma and the Mavericks have some spotty history, as Kuzma refused to be traded to the Mavericks last winter by dismissing the franchise’s contention chances. They acquired P.J. Washington for that role instead and wound up making it to the NBA Finals, and are still top-tier contenders this season. While it may be hard to overcome the bad blood, the Mavericks and Kuzma are still perfect fits for each other.
Kuzma is averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in a down year for the Washington Wizards but has proven his mettle as a high-level defender and a capable scorer. His $23.5 million contract will be harder to match and could cost the Mavericks valuable pieces alongside Kleber, ranging from former Wizard Daniel Gafford to multiple players like Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy.
Kuzma and PJ Washington would be a great frontcourt duo who could start together if necessary and provide the Mavericks the frontcourt size and shooting ability they need. However, the best place for Kuzma on this roster could be as a sixth man behind Washington to come off the bench and have more scoring freedom as well.
Cam Johnson
The second Brooklyn Net for the Mavericks to target would be the sweet-shooting Cam Johnson, who might be the most desirable trade piece this winter. Multiple teams are monitoring Johnson and the Mavericks need to be one of those teams given the boxes he can check for the franchise.
His $22.5 million contract is manageable with the Mavericks’ salary situation, especially with it being a declining long-term contract which would make him a good option for the next few seasons. He’s averaging 18.6 points and 4.2 rebounds on 43.3% from three this season, starring as a scorer for the surprisingly competitive Nets.
Johnson would be a seamless fit into the Mavericks offense as a primarily off-ball scorer who can shoot off-the-catch on all three levels of the court. His corner shooting has been elite for years while he’s had more success in pull-ups and off-the-dribble threes this season. Dallas’ offense relies on intelligent on-ball players who can swing the right pass or make a shot, with Johnson being excellent at doing both.
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