Mavericks' rumored Collin Sexton trade would rip fans' hearts out all over again

Over the past few days, the main talking point among Dallas Mavericks fans has been what it would take for Nico Harrison to get Collin Sexton to Dallas. Sexton was linked to the Mavericks in trade rumors earlier this week, as Dallas has reportedly discussed the framework of a deal with Utah, but making him a Maverick will be much easier said than done.

Since Sexton is on an expiring contract, making just under $19 million next season, the Mavericks would likely have to depart with a fan-favorite player or multiple high-level role players to make the money match up. Someone like Daniel Gafford ($14.39 million), P.J. Washington ($14.15 million), or Klay Thompson ($16.67 million) could be on the way out if Harrison were to play ball with Justin Zanik in a trade for Sexton, and fans can't expect the team to be able to keep all of their solid role players when trying to upgrade the roster with a trade.

Both Gafford and Washington are on expiring deals, while Thompson has two more years on his contract, and with Sexton being a high-level guard who just had an excellent season in Utah, they are going to command some value back from Dallas in a trade.

A Sexton trade will cost Dallas more than fans will be comfortable with

Now, the question comes down to how much value the Jazz are going to want for Sexton.

It's clear that the Jazz are in a rebuilding phase, and if they don't expect Sexton to re-sign next summer or if they plan on drafting a guard to eventually take his place, they might as well try to get as much value out of him while they can be trading him elsewhere. The Mavericks made this mistake with Jalen Brunson, as they lost one of the best up-and-coming guards in the NBA for nothing after reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011 in 2022, and the Jazz will likely push for as much as they can from the Mavericks.

It's known that Dallas needs another ball handler and shot creator badly, as Kyrie Irving will miss multiple months next season due to an ACL tear, and in today's NBA, you must have multiple shot creators on your squad to be an elite contender. The Indiana Pacers are proving this narrative true for the entire world to see during the NBA Finals right now, as they have Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton as two key pieces of their offense, and the Mavericks should follow suit by pursuing another solid creator as hard as they can to form another elite backcourt pairing like they had with Luka Doncic and Irving.

They can't depend on the veteran minimum to address this need, and a trade for someone like Sexton may be what puts this team over the top.

Last season for the Jazz, Sexton averaged 18.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from downtown. Sexton's playmaking, hustle on defense, 3-point shooting, and fire were on display all season long for a poor Jazz team, and he brings exactly what the Mavs need.

With Irving out, they need someone who can run the offense and be a strong piece next to Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg, knock down open shots, and create good looks for themselves and others, and Sexton would be capable of all of that and more.

His ability to attack the rim is one of his most underrated qualities, and his speed and tenacity would give Dallas a new swagger that only he can bring. Sexton plays as hard as anyone, and with him being 26 years old, the Mavs could consider bringing him in if they believe they can re-sign him next summer to make him a piece of their core.

But with his large contract, a trade for Sexton could cause some tears among Mavs fans.

The Jazz need frontcourt depth badly, and it seems like they would ask for Washington or Gafford in this deal from the Mavericks. While Dallas doesn't want to trade Gafford or Washington when searching for a guard on the open market, their preference may have to go to the side if they want to make a major upgrade in this area.

You have to give up value to get value in today's NBA, and one of Washington, Gafford, or even Thompson could be hitting the road this summer due to their larger contracts and presumed trade value around the NBA. Dallas could also explore combining multiple salaries of players like Max Christie, Caleb Martin, or Naji Marshall, but even then, you're giving up tons of value.

The Mavericks truly don't have any bad contracts on their books right now, and if fans want a starting-level guard to join the squad to help hold them over until Irving returns, it is going to cost a pretty penny that may be unpopular at the time of the trade.