The Dallas Mavericks have beautifully built their roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving this summer, as they found a way to get considerably better following their dominant run to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Dallas focussed on adding shooting and more guard depth off the bench this summer, and they did so by signing Klay Thompson and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Both players are going to play big roles on the Mavs this season, and all signs are pointing to them being a powerhouse in the Western Conference once again next year.
Grade the Trade: Mavericks land 3-and-D wing in blockbuster proposal with Nets
The Mavs are building for the future as well as right now, as they are progressively getting younger by making moves for players who are young, but are also ready to contribute right now. Dallas followed this plan by acquiring Quentin Grimes and signing Naji Marshall, and the future is looking bright for this young team.
After signing Dinwiddie, the Mavs now have a full 15-man roster. They have done a great job of creating balance while also keeping most of the same chemistry that pushed them to make a deep playoff run last year, but the job isn’t finished yet.
There have been rumors that Dallas has their eyes set on signing Markieff Morris back this summer, and the team could look to make one more trade to strengthen their roster even more.
In this blockbuster proposal with the Brooklyn Nets, the Mavs give up a large haul in exchange for a 3-and-D wing who Dallas fans would welcome back with open arms. This deal may look outstanding for the Mavs on the surface, but we’ve got to dive in a little deeper on both sides to truly understand how this deal would impact both teams moving forward.Mavericks land Dorian Finney-Smith in mock blockbuster trade with Nets
The Dallas Mavericks are always looking for ways to improve their roster, regardless of how stacked they are, and I don’t expect it to be any different right now.
In this mock blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Mavs land a former fan-favorite 3-and-D wing, but it was not cheap. Dallas had to give up a lot to get this potential deal done.In this mock blockbuster trade proposed by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, Dallas finally gets back Dorian Finney-Smith (who they traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Kyrie Irving trade), but they had to give up Maxi Kleber and a 2025 first-round pick.
With this trade, Dallas would have the best depth in the NBA, but losing Kleber would be harder for the Mavs than most people realize. Despite his constant injuries and inconsistent shooting, Kleber is a unique player as he can play both the four and the five and is a good defender.
Kleber has been key for the Mavericks for many years, and losing him along with a first-round pick is a bigger haul than many people realize. While getting Finney-Smith back would excite fans, the composition of the team would change considerably.
Dallas would no longer get to play Kleber at the five, but they would gain a versatile wing who has proven to be a good fit next to Luka Doncic.
Brooklyn would be losing one of their starters, but they’d gain another spot starter along with draft capital.
Next, we grade the trade for both teams involved and discuss why each team involved should or shouldn’t want to turn this mock trade into a reality.Grading the trade for the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets have seemingly been shopping Dorian Finney-Smith ever since they acquired him as part of the Kyrie Irving trade, and they finally moved him in this mock deal in exchange for Maxi Kleber and a first-round pick.
While the key part of this deal is the Nets landing a first-round pick, they also land an established veteran in Kleber. The Nets are in a rebuild right now, so Kleber would be someone who could likely get moved in a separate deal later on, or he could provide a veteran presence in the locker room and play consistent minutes.
Last season for the Mavs, Kleber averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from downtown. Kleber’s stats were way down last year, but he still provided the Mavs with a switchable big who could play small-ball five and played excellently in Dallas’ series against the LA Clippers.
This move would be attractive for the Nets as they’d be landing a first-round pick and a rotation player who can hold them over until his contract expires. Brooklyn has been trying to land significant draft capital in exchange for Finney-Smith for multiple seasons, and they finally budge and deal him for a singular first-round pick.
The Nets get a B for this trade as they land a first-round pick in a loaded draft class and expedite their rebuild.
Potential starting lineup: Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton
Grading the trade for the Dallas Mavericks
If the Dallas Mavericks were to make this move, they’d be getting better on paper, but they’d be coughing up another first-round pick to get this deal done. Dallas has been aggressive when dealing their first-round picks over the last few years, and while it has paid off, now isn’t the time to trade another one.
While the Mavs would be gaining a valuable 3-and-D wing for their bench in Dorian Finney-Smith, they don’t necessarily need him right now. They already signed Naji Marshall earlier this offseason, and he and Finney-Smith are similar players.
It’s clear that Finney-Smith wants to return to Dallas one day, and while the Mavs would likely love to have him back as well, the timeline doesn’t add up. The Nets don’t seem to have much leverage in trying to deal Finney-Smith, but Mavs fans would be excited to have him back if this move were to happen.
Last season for the Nets, Finney-Smith averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from downtown. Finney-Smith would play solid minutes for the Mavs, and could potentially close games due to his defense and shooting, but this would be a huge swing by the Mavs if they were to make this deal.
Dallas also does lose Maxi Kleber in this deal, which would hurt due to his defense, but his play has regressed over the last few seasons.
The Mavs get a D+ for this trade as they give in to the Net’s high asking price for Finney-Smith when they don’t necessarily need him.
Potential starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II
For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks all offseason long, stay tuned.
