Mavericks' Rui Hachimura interest hints more trades are coming

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks showed interest in former Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura before he signed with the LA Clippers on Monday morning, and this move alone signals that Dallas may not be done making trades.

Dallas clearly missed a good opportunity to sign an incredible shooter, as the seven-year veteran signed with the Clippers for just $28 million over two years. This includes a team option after the second season.

Hachimura is a knockdown 3-point shooter, as he has shot above 40 percent from three in each of the last three seasons. He excels at drilling shots off the catch, especially in big moments, and Dallas certainly could've used him.

The Mavericks' Rui Hachimura interest hints at something bigger

The Mavericks have already made moves with the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies for Marcus Sasser and Santi Aldama, but this could only be the tip of the iceberg of a busy summer of trades. Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford have all been in trade rumors this offseason, and their interest in Hachimura hints that something else is brewing in the shadows.

Dallas already has plenty of wing depth with Washington, Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Morez Johnson Jr., Tobi Lawal, and Tyler Smith all under contract for next season. Thompson and Marshall, of course, often play in the backcourt, but the point still stands. There wouldn't be much playing time to hand out to Hachimura if they had signed him in free agency, and the Mavericks clearly don't care much about positional overlap.

If they had signed Hachimura, Dusty May would've had to figure out how to split minutes between Johnson Jr., Flagg, Washington, and Hachimura. All four players are at their best at power forward, and the Mavs' offense would be significantly imbalanced.

This Hachimura report comes in addition to the team's interest in signing 6-foot-7 sharpshooter Tarik Biberovic, and they're exploring all avenues to get better.

Dallas isn't worried about positional overlap

This is a clear indicator that Dallas doesn't care much about positional overlap as they fill out this roster around Flagg, and players like Marshall and Washington could be on the way out before we know it. Washington seems like the more likely trade candidate, given his rough on-court fit with Flagg and the fact that he plays the same position as Johnson Jr., but Marshall could be moved as well.

Teams around the league coveted the 6-foot-6 wing at the trade deadline last season, but the Mavs decided to hold on. He's entering the final year of a three-year deal with Dallas, and if Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz don't view him as a long-term piece next to Flagg, they should move him before next season's trade deadline at the very least.

Getting value back for assets that could leave for nothing in free agency later on is extremely important, and that's why a trade for Marshall could materialize at some point soon.

The Mavs' Hachimura interest signals they aren't done making moves, and with Dallas being stagnant in free agency, they could be looking to make a trade soon before signing anyone else. They already have plenty of wings, and with the team looking to bring in another one in Hachimura, this could be just the start of a busy summer for Masai Ujiri.

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