Mavericks’ six-team blockbuster trade finally fixes glaring weakness

Last season, the Dallas Mavericks were among the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league. Even with Klay Thompson and Max Christie getting significant minutes, Dallas didn’t take or make enough threes. They weren’t very efficient either. The Mavericks shot 34.4 percent from three, which ranked 26th in the NBA.

This became one of their many fatal flaws of the season, and it was an area that they desperately needed to improve this offseason. While they’ve been quiet in free agency, Dallas’ acquisitions from a massive six-team blockbuster trade that went through on Wednesday give them more shooting as they retool the roster around Cooper Flagg.

Mavericks fans patiently waited for this move to go through after rumors of these players coming to Dallas surfaced at the beginning of July, and the move was finally made official yesterday. Dallas' shooting help is finally here.

Mavericks add three sharpshooters at the perfect time

This blockbuster move sent Marcus Sasser, Santi Aldama, and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic to Dallas, Isaiah Stewart and D’Angelo Russell to Memphis, Caris LeVert to Milwaukee, and Khris Middleton to Washington (via sign-and-trade). This is a ton of moving parts, with several quality role players switching teams, and every player that the Mavs acquired in this deal is an excellent shooter.

Aldama is the headliner of this deal for Dallas. The 7-foot stretch big shot 35 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game last season, and he finally gives Dallas someone who can be a stretch five. They’ve needed this type of player in their frontcourt for some time now, and he’ll be a nice complement to the Mavs’ rim-rolling bigs in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.

Aldama’s electric shooting off the catch will give Dallas’ offense a new dimension, as Dusty May will be able to experiment with different lineups by playing him at power forward and center.

Tarik Biberovic is a hidden gem

The other player Dallas acquired from Memphis, Biberovic, may be relatively unknown for now, but Mavericks fans will quickly learn his name. He shot 48.9 percent from three on 5.2 attempts per game last season for Fenerbahce in the BSL, and he is easily the biggest steal in this trade.

The Mavericks plan to sign him to a two-year, $6 million deal, and this is an extremely cost-effective deal for a player who has already proven so much while playing overseas. Biberovic had the opportunity to earn more by playing college basketball next season, but he was motivated to make the transition to the NBA.

AJ Johnson was never going to work in Dallas

Another underrated part about this deal is that Dallas dumped AJ Johnson to the Grizzlies. Johnson’s game is still extremely raw as he enters his third season in the league, and it’s not a great sign that he’s already on his fourth team.

On top of this, he never seemed like a long-term fit in Dallas’ young core. He showed some promise with his speed in transition and athleticism, but his lack of 3-point shooting made him stick out like a sore thumb.

Johnson shot under 20 percent from three during his time playing for the Mavericks, and his play elsewhere didn’t make up for his lack of shooting. Flagg’s show start from long range almost requires the players around him to be good shooters, and Johnson isn’t a floor spacer by any means.

Sasser is a major upgrade from Johnson

The Mavericks were smart to get out of the AJ Johnson business when they did, and the guard who will be taking his place is far more proven despite only playing one more season than him.

Dallas acquired Sasser from the Pistons in this deal, and shooting is one of his many specialties on the offensive end. He shot a career-high 41.5 percent from three on 2.8 attempts per game for Detroit last season, and he’ll give the Mavs a major spark off the bench.

The former Houston Cougar is a strong shooter off the dribble or off the catch, and this, paired with his slithery ball-handling, helps him be a strong three-level scorer. He gets to his spots relatively easily and is a good finisher in the paint despite being undersized.

This move gives Dallas three players who are known for their shooting while getting rid of one of the worst shooters on the team, and Biberovic, Aldama, and Sasser will give them a major boost in one of their weakest areas from the 2025-26 season.

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