Mavericks break silence with trade for 7-foot sharpshooter who solves longtime flaw

After not making a single move in the first two days of free agency, the Dallas Mavericks have finally broken the deafening silence that has been over the city for the last 24 hours. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Mavericks are trading AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 first-round pick, and two second-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for Santi Aldama and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic.

The Mavericks are officially on the board after a quiet last few days, and this move addresses a major weakness that has plagued them for years: floor spacing in the frontcourt. Mavs fans may have expected the team to shoot for a bigger-name player with the traded player exception they acquired as part of the Anthony Davis trade, but Aldama is an unexpected, sneaky option who should become a fan favorite.

Aldama finally gives the Mavericks a frontcourt player who can shoot

For the last few years, Dallas hasn't had many stretch bigs. Maxi Kleber was the closest thing to that, but he could never stay healthy and wasn't a reliable long-term option. They eventually traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of the Luka Doncic trade.

Marvin Bagley III helped them in this department for a few months last season, but it doesn't seem like he'll be back with the Mavericks.

This gives Aldama the perfect chance to thrive in a role that Dallas has missed for years, and he should step into a big role right away. The former Grizzly shot 35 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game last season, and he will add elite shooting to the frontcourt.

He averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field last season in Memphis. Aldama has spent the first five years of his career with the Grizzlies, and after setting a career-high in points per game, he gets a fresh start in Dallas.

Aldama will be a strong fit in Dallas

He'll be an excellent complement to Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and he can play small-ball five as well. Aldama's shooting will help open up the floor for everyone who shares the floor with him, and it's rare to find 7-footers who can shoot the three as effectively as him.

The former Loyola Maryland Greyhound is also a good connective passer and on-ball creator. His offensive game is more versatile than he gets credit for, and Dallas got a steal by picking him up for this package.

The Mavs still have other moves to make to fill out their roster around Cooper Flagg, but landing Aldama is an excellent start. He gives them something they desperately needed after shooting 34.4 percent from three as a team last season, and Aldama will certainly help them in this area.

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