Los Angeles Lakers Receive: G/F Tim Hardaway Jr., F Davis Bertans, F Reggie Bullock 

Dallas Mavericks Receive: G Russell Westbrook

There are two types of currency in the National Basketball Association. The first one is currency itself – money. The second, and increasingly popular one is draft capital. 

Any NBA team needs to properly manage its salary sheet. Overpaying players is never optimal. After all, with a salary cap and luxury tax in place, doing so limits a team’s ability to add more quality players. 

For that matter, so does lacking first-round picks. In 2022, many superstar trades are brokered by sending the team whose parting with the superstar an excess of draft capital. If you don’t have the picks, you’re not likely to get your man. 

The Mavericks have a handful of questionable contracts on their roster.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates

Meanwhile, the Lakers are very short on draft capital. Avenues towards improving either roster are somewhat difficult to find. 

Does this deal help the Mavericks’s ability to do so?