5 last-ditch trades for Mavericks to flip 10th pick in 2023 NBA Draft

4. Mavericks trade for Keldon Johnson

Last summer, the San Antonio Spurs sold high on Dejounte Murray. Keldon Johnson doesn’t have the same value, but could the Dallas Mavericks try to pry him away from the Spurs?

In addition to their need at center, Dallas should be looking to add help at the forward position this summer. Johnson would fill that void, giving the Mavericks a great third-scoring option, too.

He just wrapped up the best scoring season of his career, averaging 22.0 points a night on solid shooting. The three-point efficiency could be a concern (just 32/9%), but he’d be getting much cleaner looks alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Dallas would also stay in the draft at pick 44, giving them a chance to add a nice young player on a cost-controlled contract.

San Antonio is the big question mark here, but a trade like this could allow them to add another great young player alongside consensus number-one pick Victor Wembanyama.

If they’re high enough on him, the Spurs could even look to target Bilal Coulibaly, who was Wembanyama’s teammate in France at Metropolitans 92 and has been skyrocketing up draft boards as of late.

Johnson’s name hasn’t been thrown around in rumors heading into the draft night, but if the Spurs like a prospect enough at 10, then this trade could be worth it for them.

Potential starting lineups

Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Keldon Johnson, Maxi Kleber

Spurs: Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Pick #10, Jeremy Sochan, Victor Wembanyama