The Dallas Mavericks were reported as a potentially interested team in Jimmy Butler before his trade saga with the Miami Heat even started. At the time, everyone including us brushed it off because the Mavericks would have to give up way too much to make the deal happen. Now that they’ve done something even more unfathomable by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, it might as well be time to take their potential interest in Jimmy Butler seriously.
The Miami Heat clearly can’t find an offer for Butler, but if the Mavericks want him, there’s essentially only one formulation of a package that the team could offer while keeping Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis on the squad. It would make the Mavericks incredibly old and less versatile, but it’s entirely plausible GM Nico Harrison values Butler as a veteran star more than the outgoing assets in this mock trade.Â
Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat Receive: Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington
The Mavericks literally cannot offer any other variation of this trade, as Thompson, Gafford, and Washington would be mandatory inclusions in any formulation, The Mavericks would still be adding salary to their books by making this happen but will land an absolutely elite perimeter co-star for Kyrie who could be the perfect bridge between Kyrie and Davis on the court.
The Mavericks Focus On A New Big 3
Right now, the Mavericks have a slightly misshapen roster after dealing Doncic away. They have an abundance of swingmen who are too small to be forwards but not nearly skilled enough on-ball to point guards. Max Christie joins the likes of Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, and Dante Exum in that mix while the Mavericks also have someone like Naji Marshall as a 6’6″ forward on the roster.
Adding Butler reinforces their wing position with the same level of talent we see at guard and center. Jimmy Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on the Heat this season but would be unleashed in Dallas. He’d also be the de-facto playmaker for the franchise given the lack of passing creativity on the roster now that Doncic is gone.Â
The Mavericks would essentially field a big three of Kyrie, Butler, and Davis with Grimes or Christie in the backcourt and Marshall as the three for a double-big lineup of Davis alongside Dereck Lively II. With Exum back from injury, the promising progress of Olivier Maxence-Prosper, and the additional space for Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy, the Mavericks would still have a Playoff-caliber roster.
This wouldn’t be a great use of their assets by sending players like Gafford and Washington to Miami for a Jimmy Butler with virtually no trade value. But the Mavericks don’t worry about trade value when they have their eyes set on a player.
The Heat Get Bailed Out
What are the best offers for Jimmy Butler right now? It might be just the Phoenix Suns waiting by the phone right now, as Butler has managed to scare away every team that’s shown interest in him.Â
Butler himself openly told the Grizzlies to stay away. He also reportedly turned the Warriors down. But if the Heat find a team willing to take a gamble on him no matter his future decision, it might be the Mavericks.
This trade package completely bails the Heat out of a bad situation, as instead of settling for Bradley Beal or contracts craps, they land three genuine contributors. PJ Washington will be their starting power forward instantly, averaging 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds this season. Klay Thompson would be a great bench shooter or backcourt partner for Tyler Herro, averaging 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
Daniel Gafford is a real get, as it allows Bam Adebayo to finally have a backup worth his salt who can also be a genuine rim protector because of his size. Gafford is averaging 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks this season.
There’s no way the Mavericks should, in good conscience, offer a trade that is rewarding to the Heat. But as we’ve laid out, there’s a structure where this also works out for the Mavs and if they want to explore it, there’s no doubt in my mind that they would do.
Digging Yourself Deeper Into A Hole
I think if the Mavericks do this, they’re restricting themselves to a two-year window at maximum. Kyrie, Butler, and Davis might be a freakishly complementary trio, but they’re all past their peaks and want supermax contracts. Kyrie could also be a free agent this offseason like Butler, so they’re both competing to secure their financial future.
Davis might be the biggest long-term question mark here due to his expansive contract running till 2028 on supermax terms, making him easily the highest-paid player on the Mavericks as he ages and potentially regresses. If the Mavericks swing for Butler, they’ll have no choice but to pay him and Kyrie this summer to make a short-term title push.
This could work in the short term, but just like trading Luka in the long term, it seems like a really bad idea.
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