Mavericks' trade for Santi Aldama hides another sharpshooter Dallas shouldn't ignore

The Dallas Mavericks' biggest move of the offseason came on Wednesday night when they traded AJ Johnson, a 2030 protected first-round pick, and two future second-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for a package centered around 7-foot stretch big Santi Aldama. The five-year veteran is an excellent 3-point shooter who gives Dallas' frontcourt some needed offensive versatility, but he isn't the only lengthy, 25-year-old knockdown shooter the Mavs acquired in this deal.

Don't sleep on Tarik Biberovic

Not many are talking about this detail of the trade, but they also acquired the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic, a 6-foot-7 wing with a 6-foot-11 wingspan who was the No. 56 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Turkish-Bosnian forward shot 48.9 percent from downtown on 5.2 attempts per game last season for Fenerbahce of the Turkish Basketball Super League and EuroLeague, and multiple teams across the league showed interest in trading for him before he ultimately landed with the Mavs.

These numbers are from his 36 games in the Turkish Basketball Super League, also known as the BSL, and Dallas shouldn't overlook this player by any means as they begin this new era. They need some more youth, shooting, and instant offense, and Biberovic provides each of these.

Players get drafted and stashed with the hope that they develop more overseas all the time, just like the Grizzlies did with Biberovic. Despite this, Memphis obviously liked him enough to use a second-round pick on him in 2023, and the Mavs coveted his skill set enough to ask for him in the Aldama trade.

The 6-foot-7 wing made his EuroLeague debut just 11 days after his 18th birthday in 2019, and he has the skill set to make the jump to the NBA one day if Dallas believes in his potential. This is something he wants to do, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, and his most recent season for Fenerbahce proved that he may be ready to join the world's best professional basketball league.

What makes Biberovic intriguing

He averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in the BSL last season, and his shooting remains the best part of his game. Biberovic is an assassin off the catch from beyond the arc, and his fluid release and deep range make him a threat from nearly anywhere behind the 3-point line.

He's at his best when playing off the ball and feasting upon cuts and open shots that his teammates create, but he also has some self-creation skills as well. The Fenerbahce wing isn't going to dazzle with his quickness, but he can take slower defenders off the bounce to get to his mid-range jumper or all the way to the basket. He has decent skills in the pick-and-roll as well, and he's comfortable when the ball is in his hands.

His expanded role for Fenerbahce prepared him to join the NBA, and one of the most intriguing parts about his game is his elite playoff numbers. Biberovic takes his game to the next level in the postseason, and he has shot an incredible 45.8 percent from three over 63 career playoff games.

This is absolutely elite efficiency, and he has shot over 50 percent from long range in three of his last four playoff runs. Poise, shot-making, and confidence in big moments translate at every level, and he has that "it" factor that shooters need.

Why Biberovic is a strong fit in Dallas

Dallas desperately needs more shooting after being in the bottom five in 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, and 3-point percentage last season, and Biberovic would help them get back on track. He provides off-ball gravity, movement shooting, and even some occasional ball-handling, and the Mavs could certainly use each of those things.

It remains unclear if the Mavericks will give the 25-year-old a chance, but they should at least think about it. His specialty is one of the team's biggest weaknesses: shooting, and it looks like he has the tools to bring this sharpshooting to the NBA level as well, if given the opportunity.

Santi Aldama will likely always be known as the centerpiece of this offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, but Mavericks fans can't completely forget about Tarik Biberovic either.

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