The Dallas Mavericks have been making significant moves this offseason to solidify their status as NBA title contenders. After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Mavericks acquired key players like Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, and Naji Marshall to strengthen their roster for the upcoming 2024-25 season. While they now boast a strong mix of offense and defense, they still face a challenge with frontcourt depth, especially among their wings.
The Mavericks have a solid group of versatile players between 6’4″ and 6’6″ who can complement Luka Doncic, but they lack the size and defensive presence needed to consistently guard the frontcourt beyond P.J. Washington and the recently-signed Marshall. A proposed trade could address this issue by bringing back a familiar face who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2023.
Proposed Trade Details:
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Dorian Finney-Smith
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Maxi Kleber, A.J. Lawson, Jaden Hardy, 2025 Second-Round Pick (DAL)
In this scenario, the Mavericks would part ways with longtime player Maxi Kleber to make room for Dorian Finney-Smith, a proven perimeter defender and versatile shooter who has already demonstrated his fit in a Doncic-led offense, whether coming off the bench or starting.
The Mavericks Strengthen Their Roster for a Championship Run
The Mavericks have shown themselves to be one of the most aggressive teams in the NBA over the past few seasons, using most of their draft picks to build a roster capable of making deep playoff runs. This aggressive approach began with the Kyrie Irving trade in 2023, which led to Finney-Smith being traded alongside Spencer Dinwiddie to acquire Irving.
Last season, Finney-Smith struggled, averaging 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 34.8% from three-point range, which diminished his trade value. However, the Mavericks are an ideal fit for Finney-Smith, given his familiarity with the team, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and the strong ties he built with the franchise, which supported him during difficult personal times.
While losing Kleber would be significant, as he serves as the Mavericks’ small-ball center and backup power forward, his inconsistent offensive output and health concerns make this transition to bringing back Finney-Smith a logical move. Finney-Smith, who has also played small-ball center, could complement P.J. Washington and strengthen the Mavericks’ frontcourt rotation.
The Nets Focus on Rebuilding
The Brooklyn Nets, having reacquired their 2025 first-round pick by trading away future Suns picks, appear to be preparing for a rebuilding season. Their goal seems to be securing a top lottery pick, potentially landing a franchise-changing player like Cooper Flagg. While holding onto veteran role-players like Finney-Smith could be beneficial until the trade deadline, the Nets might accommodate a trade request from a respected veteran like Dorian.
Maxi Kleber, who averaged 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds last season, is a well-liked veteran who could help develop young bigs like Noah Clowney. A.J. Lawson, a promising prospect the Mavericks nurtured, could find more opportunities with the Nets. Jaden Hardy, who showed flashes of scoring potential by averaging 7.3 points last season, would also benefit from a fresh start in Brooklyn, potentially forming an exciting backcourt with Cam Thomas during the Nets’ rebuilding phase.
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