Grade the Trade: Mavericks acquire former No. 2 pick in mock deal with Pistons

After much wait, the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament is now in full swing. Four teams remain, and although the Dallas Mavericks are not one of them, they've seen plenty of success to start the season.

Dallas sits at fourth in the Western Conference, with a 12-8 record after Wednesday night's victory over the Utah Jazz. However, at this early juncture, the race in the West is jam-packed. Dallas is only four games back from first, but also just two and a half games from 11th.

The offense is ho-hum, averaging the 6th most points in the association at 118.2. The Mavericks make and attempt the most 3-pointers per game. They also play at a fast pace, the 9th fastest in the league.

Grade the Trade: Mavericks acquire former No. 2 pick in mock deal with Pistons

Coincidentally, Dallas doesn't do much damage from the paint. The Mavs are second-to-last in the NBA in points per game. Only a little more than a third of the Mavs' points come from paint baskets.

Dallas is set with perimeter shooters but lacks interior scorers. Only five players shoot more than 25 percent of their attempts from within three feet. One of those players, Dereck Lively II has done an unreal job as the starting center. Dallas has also struggled mightily on defense.

But other than Lively II, the Mavs lack quality frontcourt contributors. Moreover, the Mavericks bigs are all up there in age. Sans Lively II, every other Maverick taller than 6-foot-9 is above the age of 30.

Dallas is due for an upgrade at the backup five. Additionally, Dallas is due for an infusion of youth across the entire frontcourt. The Mavericks did a fantastic job of revitalizing the roster with youth over the offseason, but the movement should only continue.

This is where former second-overall pick James Wiseman enters the picture. Throughout his career, Wiseman has all but underperformed. Nonetheless, he was deemed a top prospect for a reason.

The 7-foot-1 big man offers an exciting combination of size and athleticism. He's also offered glimpses of shooting potential. Wiseman certainly passes the eye test, but his in-game results have been less than stellar.

Unfortunately for Wiseman, he hasn't been put in a position to succeed. First, he kicked off his career on the veteran-laden Golden State Warriors squad before being traded to the young Detroit Pistons, who are loaded at the center position.

Here, we'll grade a hypothetical trade involving Dallas and Detroit. Another change of scenery might be just what Wiseman needs to finally begin tapping into his potential.

Mavericks add new big man with an abundance of potential

In this trade, Dallas would receive Detroit big man James Wiseman in exchange for forward Maxi Kleber and a future second-round draft pick by way of the Miami Heat.

Although Wiseman's career has been brief, he's on the verge of being labeled a bust. Drafted second overall in 2020, Wiseman entered the league as a 19-year-old, with limited college experience.

The Piston Center was the consensus number one overall recruit out of high school. He decided to attend the University of Memphis, under head coach Penny Hardaway's tutelage. However, an NCAA investigation completely altered Wiseman's freshman season.

Wiseman only played three games for the Tigers before declaring for the draft amid the investigation. In those three contests, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

After being selected second, over the likes of LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, Desmond Bane, and others, Wiseman has failed to live up to his draft status.

In his rookie season, Wiseman appeared in 39 games with 27 starts. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Despite the intriguing numbers, Wiseman consistently looked lost on defense and lacked awareness.

Amongst all qualifiers, Wiseman ranked in the bottom 50 in both offensive and defensive ratings. Out of 540 players, the ex-Warrior ranked 526th in Value Over Replacement Player (VORP).

It's not uncommon for rookies to rank low in advanced metrics, but Wiseman never improved after his inaugural campaign. He missed his sophomore season due to injury and only played in 45 games a season ago.

This season, Wiseman has only appeared in 10 games thus far. In 11.1 minutes of action, Wiseman holds averages of 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. Stuck behind fellow youngsters Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Marvin Bagley III, Wiseman's path to playing time looks bleak.

While acquiring Wiseman isn't exactly a home run for the Mavs, his ability plus potential is enough to warrant a trade. Furthermore, Dallas only plays one center, the aforementioned Dereck Lively II. With veterans Richaun Holmes and Dwight Powell backing up Lively II, playing time is plentiful.

Grading the trade for the Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are on a long arduous quest. That quest is one for their first win since October. After finishing last in the NBA a season ago, the Pistons are well on their to another last-place finish.

It's certainly seeming like the Pistons should go full Oklahoma City Thunder. Acquire draft picks and youth in exchange for taking on bad contracts. That's where Maxi Kleber comes in.

Kleber has been a vital piece of the Dallas rotation for the past half-decade. But now, it's clear Kleber is on the decline. The longtime Mav has dealt with a plethora of injuries to begin the season. And to make matters worse, Kleber hasn't produced in his limited action.

Throughout the season, Kleber holds averages of 3.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. The points per game mark is a career low for Kleber. Furthermore, the German big's shooting numbers are abysmal. In five games, he's shooting 25 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Perhaps the worst part of Kleber's decline is his salary. After signing an extension with Dallas in 2022, the Dallas forward is owed $33 million over the next three seasons. If Kleber continues to play poorly after his return from injury, the $11 million per year pact will look like a waste.

Although Detroit wouldn't improve with Kleber on the roster, adding another draft pick is of grave importance. Over the next seven seasons, Detroit only has 15 draft picks. While that's more than the average of two per season, a rebuilding team should be stockpiling assets.

Trading away a young talent like Wiseman may look counterintuitive, but he's owed $12 million this season and on pace to become a restricted free agent in the offseason unless a team picks up his $15 million option.

Already set at the center position, it's unlikely Detroit extends Wiseman. There's no reason not to ship out Wiseman now in exchange for a draft pick and a capable 3-and-D forward.

Potential starting lineup: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren

The Pistons receive a B+ for this trade. After trading for Wiseman just a year ago, shipping him out seems like the best plan moving forward. After all, Detroit only traded one player away in exchange for the rights to the ex-Warrior.

Grading the trade for the Dallas Mavericks

This trade is all about the upside for the Dallas Mavericks. But, it's not like the Mavs are giving up multiple assets for a young superstar either.

In this hypothetical trade, Dallas only gives up Maxi Kleber and a future second-round pick for James Wiseman. As it's been discussed, Kleber looks to be on the decline. He's failed to remain healthy and his counting stats have decreased in recent seasons.

It's been four years since Kleber shot above 35 percent from three. No longer is he the viable 3-and-D threat he once was. While Kleber can still shoot the three-ball, he cannot be relied on as a knockdown shooter at this stage in his career.

Acquiring Wiseman is a low-risk, high-reward investment. He's young enough that he still oozes potential, and his contract runs out after this season. If he plays well, a future contract will be under consideration. If the experiment fails, so what, Kleber's contract is off the books.

Shipping out a future second-round pick may seem like the bigger loss, as Dallas is light on draft picks. Over the next five seasons, Dallas only owns four first-rounders and a single second-rounder.

Despite the lack of draft assets, the Mavs are flush with young talent. More than enough to make up for the deficiency of future picks. Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Josh Green, Grant Williams, and Jaden Hardy are all crucial parts of the lineup.

Adding another sub-25-year-old does wonders for roster construction. With the veteran Kleber out of the lineup for the majority of the season, Dallas hasn't looked much different.

Substituting Wiseman in for Holmes or Powell at the backup five may not drastically alter the second unit, but it will allow Dallas to experiment with a young player who possesses loads of potential.

Potential starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II

Dallas receives an A for this trade. This deal is just the type of low-key trade to maximize the future of the team, without giving away crucial assets. Kleber isn't vital to the Dallas makeup and losing a second-rounder isn't the end of the world.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.