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Dallas Mavericks trade grade: Chinanu Onuaku deal with Rockets

ByTyler Watts|
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 7: Chinanu Onuaku #21 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during the 2016 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 7, 2016 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 7: Chinanu Onuaku #21 of the Houston Rockets poses for a portrait during the 2016 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 7, 2016 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dallas Mavericks made a trade on Aug. 2 with the Houston Rockets.  We detail the transactions and Dallas’ motivation to accept it.

The Dallas Mavericks made a trade for a young center on Aug. 2, but the big man did not last on the roster long.

Mavs fans may be a bit confused about the transactions, so let us break down the deal and why the team was motivated to make the trade.  Plus, we grade the move from a Mavericks perspective.

The trade (updated)

Dallas receives: Chinanu Onuaku, the right to swap 2020 second round (protected 31-39) draft choices, and cash

Houston receives: draft rights to Maarty Leunen

Subsequent move

According to Shams Charania, the Mavs are going to waive Onuaku and use that roster spot to sign Devin Harris.

Why do the deal?

The trade from Houston’s side is easy to figure out.  They freed up a roster spot and some cap space.  Leunen likely never plays in the NBA, and the 2020 pick has protections so it may never even convert over to the Mavs.

The Mavs made the deal for two reasons.  One, it cost them nothing.  Houston is paying Onuaku’s salary.  Two, Dallas could get a better pick or more cash.  The Houston pick is protected (31-39), so the Mavs may only get more money according to Eric Pincus.

The Mavericks were likely happy to deal away the rights to Leunen in the event he decides to give the NBA a shot.

Trade grade: B+

The Dallas Mavericks made a trade to help out the Rockets but did not gain a ton from the deal.  They got either a higher second round pick or cash, but neither is going to help the team a ton.  The Mavs did not really lose anything in the deal so a B-plus seems like a reasonable grade.

Final thoughts

It was a busy week for the Dallas Mavericks.  They have their training camp roster just about set, and in late September they will begin a new season with media day.  The excitement is high and only going to grow as that day approaches.  Get ready for a fantastic season of Mavericks basketball.

The Smoking Cuban has Dallas Mavericks fans covered with the opinions and analysis they desire to read, so please check back with us daily to never miss an article.  Thank you for reading.

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