Mavericks Set to Secure Star Shooter in Stunning Move. The injury woes continue to pile up for the Dallas Mavericks, with several key role players recently sidelined.
The team was already missing Maxi Kleber and Dante Exum due to various injuries, and now Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington have joined the list. Lively II sprained his shoulder during pregame warmups ahead of Monday’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers, while Washington suffered a knee sprain and will be out for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
These injuries have come at a challenging time for Dallas. While Lively II remains listed as questionable for tonight’s game, the Mavericks may need to consider making a trade to reinforce their frontcourt depth.
Dallas has a strong core in the frontcourt with Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington, who make a significant impact each night. However, their depth behind these players is thin. Kleber has the potential to contribute when healthy, but his recurring injury issues have been a major concern in recent years. The Mavs could certainly use additional help in the rotation to ensure they have reliable depth when needed.
Finney-Smith would give Mavs needed depth at backup four spot
The best way for the Dallas Mavericks to address their frontcourt depth issues may be through a trade, especially since their backup options behind key players are currently limited. One potential solution could be re-acquiring a familiar face: Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes highlighted Finney-Smith as the Mavs’ “dream” trade target, and while the Nets’ asking price might be steep, it’s a move that shouldn’t be completely dismissed.
Finney-Smith spent the first six and a half seasons of his NBA career with the Mavs, and with Maxi Kleber’s hamstring injury possibly sidelining him for an extended period, now might be the ideal time to bring back the versatile forward. Finney-Smith has experience playing alongside Luka Dončić and within Jason Kidd’s system. His defensive prowess, 3-point shooting, and ability to contribute off the bench would help address some of Dallas’ current shortcomings, particularly in terms of bench production. The Mavs’ second unit has struggled so far this season, and adding someone like Finney-Smith could provide an immediate boost, particularly with the Mavs’ need for more frontcourt size.
This season, Finney-Smith is averaging 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game with the Nets, shooting 34.8 percent from 3-point range. While his shooting percentage has dipped since leaving Dallas, his willingness to take and make threes is a positive sign. The Mavs have been desperately lacking 3-point shooting from their bench, with the second unit hitting only 17 three-pointers total this season—roughly 2.4 per game. Given Dallas’ emphasis on 3-point shooting, Finney-Smith could help raise that number and improve the overall spacing and scoring of their bench.
In addition to his shooting, Finney-Smith’s ability to guard multiple positions would add valuable defensive flexibility to the Mavs’ rotation, especially given their thin wing depth. Dallas had reportedly been interested in trading for him last season, even before they made key moves to acquire Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, and sources have indicated that Finney-Smith would be open to returning to Dallas at some point.
Finney-Smith is set to earn $14.9 million this season and has a player option for $15.4 million for next year. While the Mavs would likely need to give up some significant assets to make a deal work, his addition could give Dallas the frontcourt depth and consistency they’re currently lacking. As the season progresses, the need for more reliable bench contributors could grow, making a potential trade for Finney-Smith an intriguing option.
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