- The Dallas Mavericks take a chance on Ben Simmons and his talent
- The Brooklyn Nets get two solid role players
- This is a win-win trade for both teams
The Dallas Mavericks have made several solid moves this summer: the main one is re-signing Kyrie Irving, but the team also added some solid veterans to the roster, such as Grant Williams and Seth Curry. However, the team needs to make further additions to bolster its roster and become a true championship-level team.
In terms of assets, the Dallas Mavericks don’t have too much, so the key for them is to make relatively risky acquisitions with potential upside. A player that they could potentially target is Ben Simmons, as he is at his lowest possible value right now. Our trade framework would involve the Mavericks sending away Tim Hardaway Jr., and Christian Wood in a deal.
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Christian Wood (Sign-And-Trade)
The Brooklyn Nets have already explored trading Ben Simmons previously, so this deal could potentially be appealing to them. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks themselves need to make a difference-making move to compete in the Western Conference. Here is why this deal works from both sides.
The Mavericks Acquire A Good Defender Who Has Potential Upside
At this point, it is fair to say that Ben Simmons is not the All-NBA player that he once was with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he is still a solid defender, rebounder, and playmaker that can contribute to a winning team. He has notably dealt with injury issues in recent years, but Simmons is reportedly the healthiest he has been as of this offseason. A healthy Ben Simmons could be of use to the Dallas Mavericks, even if he is only around 70% of the player that he used to be.
This past season with the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons averaged 6.9 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 6.1 assists per game. Though that is not star-level production, the versatility Ben Simmons provides defensively could be helpful for the Dallas Mavericks. Defense is clearly their weakness as of right now, which is why they drafted a rim protector in Dereck Lively in the draft. Adding Ben Simmons would also give them the option of going small with him at the center. Jason Kidd is a defensive-minded coach, so he would definitely welcome a player like Simmons, who has been in the DPOY conversation in the past.
In theory, the Dallas Mavericks are the perfect place for Ben Simmons to revive his career. They have two elite scorers in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and there would be no pressure on Ben Simmons to score. Both stars are also solid 3PT shooters, which means they could space the floor for Ben Simmons. On top of that, the team has other elite shooters, which would take advantage of Ben Simmons’ passing and slashing ability.
With that being said, taking on Ben Simmons is certainly a risk for the Dallas Mavericks. The key for him is his mentality, and it is fair to say that his aggression when slashing to the rim has waned. Simmons’ scoring has continuously decreased since the 2018-19 season, and it is unlikely that we’ll ever see him score more than 15 points per game again. However, if he even manages to crack double digits in that department, then he will be a valuable player.
Ben Simmons is the sort of acquisition that the Dallas Mavericks can make without giving up too many assets. It is a high-risk, high-reward trade, and taking the risk could be the right move, as no championships were won without GMs taking risks.
The Brooklyn Nets Get A Solid Return For A Player On A Bad Contract
It is easy to see why the Brooklyn Nets have explored trading Ben Simmons already. He is not the player they thought they would get in the James Harden trade, and he is rapidly being supplanted by other good young players on the roster, such as Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. Now is the time to truly try and move off of him, and taking this package from the Dallas Mavericks could be the solution for them.
Christian Wood would be the main draw for the Brooklyn Nets here, and he is a big man that could potentially start at the PF position for the team. He averaged 16.6 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game last season while shooting 37.6% from 3PT range. Though he clearly has his defensive issues, having Nic Claxton as his frontcourt partner could help mitigate them. His offensive talent is clearly worth the risk for the Nets, especially if they can move Ben Simmons.
Tim Hardaway Jr. profiles as a solid sixth man who can provide a spark plug off the bench. It is definitely useful for the team to have a role player like him, and he could be a contributor to the Nets and their playoff chase.
Though the Brooklyn Nets would not receive any draft compensation in this deal, this is a solid return for them even without it. Getting two solid role players is a win for them, and they should absolutely take this deal if it is offered.
This Deal Would Work Out Well For Both Teams
This deal could potentially end up working out well for both teams. The Dallas Mavericks would essentially be taking a flyer on Ben Simmons to try and improve their defense and overall talent level. Even if things don’t work out, his contract expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, so they can possibly trade him later on to a team that wants salary relief.
As for the Brooklyn Nets, they would end up improving their roster overall and becoming a more well-rounded team. At this point, the team’s goal should be to try and move Ben Simmons in a win-now move, and this deal accomplishes that.
It remains to be seen if the two teams would ever come together on a trade with this framework. A deal makes sense from both perspectives, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
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