Grade the Trade: Mavs land fan-favorite wing and elite center in mock deal with Nets

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers last night to improve 15-8 and sit as the third seed in the Western Conference.

Luka Doncic is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and the Mavs are finding a way to win games even with injuries to several of their key players.

The Mavs are settling into the groove of things, but they still need to make at least one move at the trade deadline to become true NBA Finals contenders.

Grade the Trade: Mavs land fan-favorite wing and elite center in mock deal with Nets

Their rebounding and defense must get better, and they could look to the trade market to help improve these areas.

The Dallas Mavericks have been linked to several players over the last few months, including Pascal Siakam, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela.

It doesn't seem like the Siakam rumors from a few months ago hold much weight, as Dallas just inquired about his availability, and Dallas' interest in Capela has also reportedly "faded" now that Dereck Lively II is playing so well.

That leaves Finney-Smith as a player whom a trade with Dallas seems possible, and honestly, not too far-fetched. There have been flurries that Finney-Smith "would love" to return to Dallas one day, and it's no secret that Luka wants to play with him again, it just depends on the cost.

Should Dallas pursue Finney-Smith or should they look elsewhere to improve their squad?

In this mock proposal, the Mavs address their two biggest weaknesses in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. This move would probably excite every Mavs fan and could propel Dallas into being the best team in the Western Conference.

Dallas Mavericks land two defensive stars in blockbuster trade with Brooklyn Nets

In this massive mock trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the Dallas Mavericks give up two big future assets but land two pieces that can help them win the NBA Finals right away.

In this trade, the Mavs sent Josh Green, Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and a 2027 first-round pick to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton. This trade brings Dallas another 3-and-D wing and another center that can anchor the defense along with Dereck Lively II.

The Nets add a guard with tons of potential in Green, giving them another 3-and-D option who is much younger than Finney-Smith. The Nets need more guard depth, and Green will be a rotation player for them for years to come. Brooklyn also lands a floor-spacing big in Kleber and an energetic lob threat and hustle player in Powell.

Although Brooklyn lands three players who would play significant minutes for them, the best asset in this trade could be the 2027 first-round pick. This first-round pick is so valuable because this could be after a season in which Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic hypothetically wouldn't be with the Mavs anymore.

Doncic has a player option heading into that season, and he will probably opt out to land more money. Whether that is in Dallas or elsewhere. If Dallas didn't have Doncic for that 2026-27 season, that pick could be a lottery pick, and Dallas is being cautious about moving it.

Grading the trade for the Brooklyn Nets

In this move, the Brooklyn Nets give up two of their best assets in Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith, but they land two massive assets for the future in Josh Green and the 2027 first-round pick. They also land two rotation players in Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell.

Although this trade would hurt as they lose Claxton and Finney-Smith, they could make this move if they think that Claxton won't be coming back. He is set to become a free agent this summer and they might as well try to get some assets for him while they still can. Claxton remains someone the Nets want to keep long term, but things can change quickly.

Although Finney-Smith is having a great season with the Nets, they have an overload of wings on this roster. They already have Ben Simmons, Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and Royce O'Neale, and maybe they'd let Finney-Smith go if the right offer presented itself.

This trade with Dallas gives them three pieces that would bolster their depth, and Brooklyn needs some more help down low. They don't have an elite floor-spacing big, and that's what Kleber can be when he is at his best.

Kleber hasn't been the best this season, but I could see him returning to being an elite floor spacer once he returns. They also land a great veteran presence and glue guy in Powell.

The Nets likely could have gotten more in this trade, but this move wouldn't be shocking if they knew Claxton was going to be out the door this summer. Dallas could also throw in someone like Jaden Hardy or Olivier-Maxence Prosper to sweeten the deal, but this trade could potentially get it done.

Potential starting lineup: Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Day'Ron Sharpe

Brooklyn could also elect to go small ball and throw Spencer Dinwiddie into the starting lineup if they wanted to.

The Nets get a B- for this trade, as this move would be risky as it rests heavily on Kleber playing better and Green improving. It also seems like they could get more out of this trade, but Green is someone who could blossom into a reliable starter one day.

Grading the trade for the Dallas Mavericks

This trade would propel the Dallas Mavericks into NBA Finals contention without a doubt. This team continues to prove that they can win even with key pieces out due to injury, and they will be even more of a problem once everyone gets healthy.

Although losing Josh Green, Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber would sting, Dallas' return is two elite players who would both play heavy minutes for this squad.

Finney-Smith would immediately enter the starting lineup next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and Nic Claxton could either anchor the defense in the starting unit or off the bench. It all depends on how he meshes with the first unit, but regardless, Dallas would have one of the best center duos in the league in Claxton and Dereck Lively II.

This team would also still be deep, as they still have role players such as Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr., and Lively II to bring off the bench.

This is the type of move that the Mavs could need to take them to the next level, and a Finney-Smith homecoming would ignite every MFFL as it has already been reported that Dallas has shown interest in him.

Potential starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dorian Finney-Smith, Grant Williams, Nic Claxton

This team would be built for the playoffs, as they have shooters and great defenders in both the starting lineup and off the bench. Their rebounding numbers would also go up, making them an absolute force in the West.

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