6 Former Mavericks who could be traded next after Lakers' Finney-Smith deal

Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Lakers made the one move that Dallas Mavericks fans have been begging Nico Harrison to make over the last year.

The Lakers landed Dorian Finney-Smith in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, subsequently killing Dallas' chance to address their desire for more frontcourt depth by a trade for the beloved former Maverick. Dallas hadn't shown any reported interest in Finney-Smith as they had last season, but it was undeniable that he would have been an outstanding fit off Dallas' bench to become P.J. Washington's backup.

Finney-Smith is having one of the best seasons of his career as he is averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from downtown, and the Lakers truly added one of the best 3-and-D players to their roster.

Former Mavs who might be on the move after Finney-Smith trade

Dallas' quest to improve their frontcourt will continue even though Finney-Smith is off the board, and we could see several more former Mavericks switch teams ahead of the February 6 trade deadline.

This Finney-Smith deal officially kicked off trade season, and we could see several more moves trickle in as trade rumors are starting to heat up with just over a month until the deadline.

6. Josh Green

The Mavericks traded Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the six-team Klay Thompson deal over the summer, and Dallas should definitely be happy that they shipped him off when they did.

Despite having the best 3-point shooting season of his career, he has been inconsistent in Charlotte and it doesn't look like he'll ever develop into a high-level starter in the NBA. The Hornets could punt on his potential if they wanted to bring in multiple young pieces and or some draft capital and a bench role on a contender would make much more sense for Green. This isn't to say that being a guaranteed starter for a bad team won't be beneficial for Green, but his career trajectory isn't looking as promising as it once did.

Green can still pan out and turn into an elite 3-and-D two guard, but his off-ball defense must improve and his efficiency from inside the arc has to be much better. He is shooting 42.2 percent on two-pointers this season, and that is a major drop-off from his time with the Mavs as he shot 59.4 percent on these shots.

5. Christian Wood

When the Mavs traded for Christian Wood on the day of the NBA Draft in 2022, it was a move that seemingly every Mavs fan loved. They thought they had landed their center of the future, but they couldn't have been more wrong.

Despite incredible offensive numbers, Wood's defense was unreliable and he didn't seem fully bought into what the Mavs wanted him to do. As shown by Dallas' run to the NBA Finals last year, vibes are important, and Wood did not pass the vibe check.

He is someone the Lakers could look to move before the trade deadline considering that he hasn't played a game this season, and Los Angeles hasn't been able to rely upon him since he arrived. He was a solid piece off the bench for the Lakers last season, but it may be in their best interest to send his expiring contract elsewhere.

4. Josh Richardson

Josh Richardson's time with the Mavs in the 2020-21 season was forgettable, and ever since leaving Dallas, his production has dipped. He is in the middle of the worst statistical season of his career with the Miami Heat, and he is undoubtedly someone that the Heat could send elsewhere to help the salary match up in potential trades considering that he is on an expiring deal.

Richardson has only played in eight games for Miami this season, and if they are going to trade Jimmy Butler, he could end up being moved as part of that trade.

The Mavs don't seem interested in Butler despite the reporting that he is interested in becoming a Maverick, and even though Richardson is a prime trade candidate, it doesn't look like it will be to the Mavs.

3. Harrison Barnes

San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes is the one player on this list who would make sense on the Mavericks, and he is still a high-level role player despite being in his 13th season. Barnes is averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting 41.3 percent from downtown, and he would make tremendous sense for Dallas to be the backup power forward behind Washington.

The Spurs could feel more inclined to deal him now considering that they are still in the early phases of their rebuild, and if they begin to slide in the standings, Barnes could be on the move. He has started in every single game that he's played in since the beginning of the 2016-17 season when he was on the Mavs, but it may be best for him to begin coming off the bench for a playoff team considering where his production is at.

2. Richaun Holmes

Dallas' draft night trade for Richaun Holmes was a move that was hyped up at the time, but he never made a big impact for the Mavs. Dallas traded him to the Washington Wizards in the Daniel Gafford trade last season, and he has yet to have a consistent role this season.

He has only played in four games this season, and all signs are pointing to him being an end-of-bench guy for the remainder of his career. Holmes was never able to replicate the production he showcased on the Sacramento Kings in the 2020-21 season, and Mavericks fans know that well considering the hype that was surrounding him after he was traded to Dallas.

1. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Right after the NBA Finals ended last summer, it seemed like the Mavs' biggest trade priority was moving Tim Hardaway Jr.

He had become unplayable over the second half of the season and into the playoffs last season, and the Mavs were dedicated to finding a trade partner for him. Dallas ended up sending him to the Detroit Pistons in the Quentin Grimes trade, and the Pistons could end up moving him to a contender that needs some shooting.

Hardaway Jr. is shooting 36.1 percent from three on the year as a starter in Detroit, and trading him may make the most sense for the Pistons if they don't have their hearts set on fighting for a play-in spot.