Why The Dallas Mavericks Do The Deal 

This deal doesn’t make the Mavericks better. That’s fine.

Unlike the Lakers, the Mavericks don’t need to get better now. They have the luxury of being able to get better later. Realistically, Luka Doncic may not even be in his prime yet. 

With that in mind, this deal serves two purposes for Dallas.

Firstly, it enhances the value of their 2027 first-round pick. That’s the main appeal. They could use that to acquire a co-star for Doncic eventually. 

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It also gets them off of Hardaway Jr.’s contract in exchange for a couple of expiring deals. In general, this deal is designed to put Dallas in a better situation this summer. 

If they want to, they’ll be able to pay for some major upgrades.