How This Trade Impacts Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks had grand plans entering the offseason that included landing a star player. They wanted to make a run at Kawi Leonard or Kyle Lowry, but once they realized that was unrealistic, they pivoted to a different plan.
Instead, they decided to add some more shooting and wing depth to the team. They signed Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown early in free agency, both of whom are excellent 3-point shooters. Frank Ntilikina was signed more recently and will help as a wing defender.
In this deal with the LA Clippers, they add even more depth to the backcourt and wing spots. Luke Kennard is an excellent 3-point shooter, as he made 44.6 percent of his attempts last season and is a 41.3 percent shooter in his career.
Depending on the role he would be deployed in, Kennard could be that secondary ball-handler and playmaker Dallas was looking for. In his last season with the Detroit Pistons, Kennard averaged 4.1 assists per game, so the playmaking potential is there.
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The same can be said about Justise Winslow, who was blossoming as a point forward with the Miami Heat before injuries derailed him. He is an excellent reclamation target this season and brings a ton of versatility to the table.
Dallas would be a little thin in the frontcourt after this trade, which could push Kristaps Porzingis back to starting at the center spot. Dorian Finney-Smith would also play more power forward, which might not be the worst thing for Dallas as they could match up better with teams running small-ball lineups.
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The big drawback from this deal for the Mavericks is the long-term money that Kennard is owed. They would likely ask for draft compensation to be included to take him on.
