The Dallas Mavericks came into the 2024-25 season with a lot of excitement regarding their prospects to repeat their NBA Finals run and compete for a title, especially with the addition of Klay Thompson. While Thompson has been as good as advertised, the Mavericks have started the season a disappointing 5-5 and currently sit at No. 11 in the West.
Head coach Jason Kidd has expressed his frustrations with the roster and their effort level, publicly pointing out the difference between having a deep rotation on paper and a deep rotation through player efforts. If the Mavericks want to trim their roster down to maximize winning potential, they should consider moving multiple positive-value players to the Portland Trail Blazers for a veteran forward who desperately needs a winning situation.
Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jerami Grant, Dolano Banton
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Daniel Gafford, Maxi Kleber, Quentin Grimes, 2025 Top-10 Protected First-Round Pick (DAL)
The Mavericks fork out three rotational players for the price of one, with the Trail Blazers potentially finding value in flipping Kleber and Gafford to winning teams immediately while potentially giving Quentin Grimes another chance at development after the swingman’s stints in New York, Detroit, and Dallas met a premature end.
The Mavericks Add The Perfect Two-Way Forward
The Mavericks have been overwhelming opponents with their dynamic guard duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, with Klay Thompson expected to make their unit an even more potent offensive machine. That hasn’t been the reality despite Kyrie and Klay’s decent offensive exploits, with the Mavs having a 116.0 offensive rating so far this season. Doncic has been inconsistent but his form is bound to pick up as the season goes on.
Jerami Grant averaged 21.0 points and 3.5 rebounds last season but has had a slow start in a crowded Portland rotation this season with no direction, averaging 18.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. He would be the perfect small forward alongside PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt, providing high-level connective play while being a scoring option as a catch-and-shoot threat or in isolation.
Losing Daniel Gafford forces the Mavs to promote Dereck Lively II to full-time center with the sophomore coming off the bench behind Gafford right now despite proving to be a more competent two-way threat. The Mavs can bring backup Summer League center Jamarion Sharpe to be their backup there, while Kleber and Grimes’ have had bit-part rotational roles this season so far.
The Trail Blazers Add Multi-Faceted Veterans For A Bad Contract
Jerami Grant is definitely one of the top players in the NBA but he’s also on a contract that might overvalue him in comparison to the realistic production we can see from him as a role-player or third option on a winning team. His contract has $132.4 million left to be paid out over four years, so the Trail Blazers will be glad to have gotten three rotational players of value instead of being forced to attach picks to Grant in a salary dump.
Gafford is averaging 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds this season but would be the most prominent trade candidate out of all the names involved in this trade. His $13.3 million contract won’t be hard to match for a contender, with potential names like the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, or Phoenix Suns potentially looking to address concerns at the position. Maxi Kleber averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists last season and is a solid backup stretch five, though he’s been injured this season.
Finally, Quentin Grimes is in a contract year and was recently called out by name by Jason Kidd after a loss for not being able to make a shot. If Grimes has no future alongside Kidd, the Mavs won’t have a hard time moving off him given his two-way upside and 24-year age.
The Mavericks Commit To Winning While The Blazers Acquire Assets
All three of the players going to Portland in this deal have some value on the market. Gafford as a 26-year-old shot-blocker and lob threat would be extremely enticing for franchises around the NBA, so the Blazers have a guaranteed value-flip there. Kleber might be harder to move given his recent injury history but he is well-regarded around the league as a terrific veteran, something he can be for this Blazers squad.
Grimes just needs an opportunity, with Dolano Banton’s departure in this trade, he could scoop up the 10.6 minutes he played if not more, to prove his value to the NBA and the Blazers before free agency next season. The Mavericks would land a premier forward who will get the chance to play for a franchise with winning hopes after five years on teams like the Detroit Pistons and Trail Blazers.
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