The Dallas Mavericks are ready to take the NBA by storm. This team entered the summer with a lot to worry about. By now, most of those worries have been alleviated. We’re talking about Kyrie Irving.
The Mavericks traded Dorian Finney-Smith and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets to acquire him at last year’s deadline. This summer, he was a free agent. If Irving had left the Mavericks, they’d have given all of that up for nothing. Luckily for Dallas fans, he chose to stay with the organization.
After that, the Mavericks could breathe a sigh of relief. Still, it ought to have been a brief one. There’s still work to do here. The Mavericks still have needs, and perhaps none are pressing as a big man to anchor their defense. Could they turn back to the Nets and look to acquire Nic Claxton from them?
The Trade Proposal
Brooklyn Nets Receive: C JaVale McGee, G/F Josh Green, 2027 First-Round Pick (DAL)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: C Nic Claxton
The Brooklyn Nets are…well, not ready to take the NBA by storm. Still, they’re in a good position overall. At one time, they were in a similar position to the Mavericks. The Nets had Kyrie Irving, and they wanted to contend with him on the roster.
While the Mavericks have him paired with a single, brilliant playmaker in Luka Doncic, the Nets had him on a super team. They had Kevin Durant and James Harden on their roster.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Now, they’re all gone. In their wake, the Nets have a deep roster full of quality defenders and a cache of first-round picks. Oh, and Ben Simmons. His contract does complicate matters for Brooklyn. Could they really move off of Claxton as a result?
Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
Possibly. That’s definitely one motive here. Claxton is due for a contract extension next summer. It’s going to be lucrative. Can the non-contending Nets afford it? Well, it depends on how highly they value Claxton. This could be a non-starter.
It’s possible that Brooklyn would prefer to salary dump Simmons to make room for Claxton. Of course, that would likely mean parting with some of those draft picks. Let’s review the situation: The Nets are not title contenders. Should they really be surrendering assets to make room for an elite role player like Claxton? Here, we’ve got them receiving assets instead.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Green is a young player with plenty of upside, and the Nets are adding a first-round pick to their collection here. Should the Mavericks send so much out for Claxton?
Why The Dallas Mavericks Do The Deal
Well, unlike the Nets, the Mavericks are contending. What is exactly is the difference? Luka Doncic. He’s a top-10 player, and he’s closer to the top-5 than he is to the top-15. That’s crucial. When you’ve got a player of Doncic’s caliber on your roster, you need to go all-in.
The Mavericks can’t get stingy about their draft capital. They don’t need it. Instead, they need quality players. Claxton is a quality player. His unique blend of foot speed and wingspan make him a monster on the defensive end of the floor.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Claxton can defend the rim at an elite level, but he’s also more than capable of defending in space. Meanwhile, he’ll make for a dynamic pick-and-roll finisher alongside Doncic on the other end of the floor. In other words, he’ll help Dallas take the league by storm.
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