Mavericks' biggest trade nightmare is on the horizon as rival eyes wild move

2024 ended rough for the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic sustaining a calf strain injury in their Christmas Day matchup to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Now as 2025 is less than a week in, Kyrie Irving is now out of the lineup due to a bulging disk in his back.

Having both of the Mavericks' superstars out with injuries at this time could put the season in jeopardy with a tight Western Conference as the Mavericks currently sit with with a 20-16 record. The Mavericks are the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but the San Antonio Spurs, who are currently the 10th seed and would be in the Play-In Tournament, are two games behind the Mavericks.

If there's one team that's running away with the Western Conference right now, it's an up-and-coming rival to the Mavericks, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference with a 30-5 record, and the Thunder have won their past 15 consecutive games.

The Thunder are getting better with every game and the Mavericks are falling. If the Mavericks don't want their rival to get stronger as a team, then the Mavericks better pray the Thunder don't land a rising star in the Eastern Conference who would change everything for them.

Thunder trading for Johnson could elevate them to unstoppable heights

According to Marcus Thompson II, Anthony Slater, and Sam Amick, along with the Sacramento Kings, the Thunder are in pursuit (subscription required) of Brooklyn Nets star forward Cameron Johnson. The Kings are currently 18-19 and out of the playoffs, but if the Thunder were to get Johnson, it would make the Thunder a much better team and the Mavericks be even more worried about facing the Thunder. Thompson II, Slater, and Amick made it clear that the Thunder and Kings are in "hotter pursuit" of Johnson over the Golden State Warriors, and Johnson joining an already-stacked Thunder team would be giving the rest of the Western Conference nightmares for the rest of the season.

While Johnson would be a great fit in Dallas, there have been no rumors linking him to the Mavericks so far. His shooting would be an unbelievable fit next to Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, and the Mavericks needed frontcourt depth badly. Despite his undeniable potential fit in Dallas, Mavericks fans may just have to live with him playing for one of their biggest rivals, and he is laying the framework to have a great end of the season already with his performance in Brooklyn so far.

On a bad Nets team that is currently 13-23 and a team that would be out of the playoffs if they began today, Johnson has raised his talents remarkably and turned into a staple for them. Johnson is averaging 19.5 points per game which is not only the second-highest on the Nets, but also a new career high for the 28-year-old forward.

From last season to this season along with averaging more in scoring, Johnson has averaged more assists per game, steals per game, and blocks per game. Johnson is also averaging a higher field goal percentage and 3-point percentage from last season to this season. He is starting to become a much better shooter off the dribble, and his constant off-ball movement makes him someone that defenses must always account for.

Outside of his shooting, Johnson is also a decent slasher and can effectively attack closeouts and finish at the rim. He isn't just a shooter, and his growing skillset would make him a great fit on any contender.

Adding Johnson to the Thunder would already make a talented team even better, which can scare the Mavericks. Last season's MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at it again by averaging 31.3 points per game. Jalen Williams is also a talented up-and-coming player who is averaging 20.6 points per game. With Johnson by their side, he'd be getting unlimited open looks from three, and Gilgeous-Alexander's unbelievable on-ball gravity would turn Johnson into even more of a monster.

The Thunder are tied for the 10th most made 3-pointers in the NBA. Adding Johnson would make the Thunder more deadly from three. Johnson has a 43.6 field goal percentage from three this season, and he isn't afraid to let it fly even when the defense is in his face. OKC is currently in the bottom half of the league, as they are shooting 35.1 percent from three, and adding one of the best shooters in the league to their roster would be a major upgrade ahead of the trade deadline.

With Doncic and Irving out with injuries and the Thunder continuing to be one of the elite teams in the NBA, the Mavericks have every right to be worried about the Thunder having Johnson as one of their rumored trade targets. Although the Mavericks defeated the Thunder in the second round of last year's playoffs, the Thunder have responded this season in spectacular fashion, and bringing Johnson would give the Thunder a huge edge over the Mavericks.

In the playoffs last season, Dallas tried to force OKC's role players to beat them from downtown, but that luxurious strategy wouldn't be replicated if they play the Thunder again and they trade for Johnson. Oklahoma City adding Johnson would easily be one of the best deadline moves of the season, and it would give them a much better shot at stealing the Mavs' Western Conference crown.