Grading every move the Dallas Mavericks made at the trade deadline

5. Trading away 2027 first-round pick

The Mavericks most coveted asset heading into the trade deadline behind probably only Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, was their only deployable first round pick (2027). It was well known by Mavericks fans that that pick could be on the move heading into trade deadline day for Dallas, and it subsequently was moved to Charlotte when Dallas dealt for P.J. Washington.

Many would agree that Dallas paid a steep yet fair price for Washington, but Dallas' misfortunes in dealing their 2027 first to Charlotte go far beyond whether they paid a fair price for Washington or not. After Dallas lost Jalen Brunson in the summer of 2022, the Mavericks were forced to part with significant draft capital in their trade for Kyrie Irving as Dallas gave Brooklyn two second-round picks and one first-round pick in the trade for Irving.

This handicapped the Mavericks' ability to trade future first rounds picks significantly because of the Stepien Rule as well as the fact that Dallas is still recovering from picks sent to the New York Knicks from the Kristaps Porzingis deal that didn't work out.

Dallas is projected to have two available first round picks to trade this summer and they have some much more valuable contracts to trade with their new assets in Gafford and Washington if things don't work out for whatever reason.

However, the Mavericks were forced to mend past wounds by sending out their only current deployable first round pick and lots of their future draft capital that they've sent out the past two years land in seasons after Luka Doncic's current contract expires, so sending out the 2027 first round pick earns a D+ even though it was necessary to trade as a means to fix Dallas' roster.