Santi Aldama trade gives Mavericks far more than just shooting

With the NBA offseason fully underway, there have been plenty of big deals and trades made in the last couple of days around the league. The Dallas Mavericks made their first big post-draft acquisition after trading for Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama on Wednesday. This is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Mavs given Aldama's team-friendly contract and versatile skill set.

Aldama is often viewed as just a floor-spacing big, but he offers much more than that. His cost-controlled contract, ability to play the four and five, length, fluidity, and youth give Dallas a player who is far more intriguing than he gets credit for.

While 3-point shooting is likely his strongest attribute, as the 7-footer shot 35 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game last season, he will give the Mavericks the lineup versatility they've lacked, and he has a real chance to emerge as an X-factor in the early years of this new era.

Aldama's team option provides Dallas with elite flexibility

Santi Aldama is under contract with the Mavericks for two more seasons at around $17 million per year. However, the second season includes a team option, meaning the Mavs can choose to keep him for the $17 million or allow him to become a free agent next summer.

This team option gives the Mavericks a lot of flexibility for next summer and beyond. As things stand, the Mavericks are not in a place to contend for a title. And while Aldama can be a good rotational player for this team, he isn't someone most front offices would consider a core piece of a championship team. It was wise for them to trade for a player who doesn't have much long-term money on the books, and even better for them to be able to decide whether to keep the player or not.

This is the exact situation Dallas is in with Aldama.

Also, Aldama is only 25 years old. If he proves to be a great fit for this team and contributes to winning, then the Mavericks could potentially sign him to a new long-term deal after this season. The point is, they have optionality with his deal and aren't stuck with a guy who could have a negative-value contract.

Aldama brings the shooting and length Dallas needs

Since the NBA Draft, the Mavericks' main deficiency has been clear: shooting. And even more than that, they haven't had a legitimate stretch big since Maxi Kleber was still playing regularly for them. Masai Ujiri has stated that he wants to build a roster around Cooper Flagg that includes shooting. This trade does exactly that for them.

Aldama is a career 35 percent 3-point shooter. And standing at seven feet, he has the versatility to be able to finish around the basket and step out to the 3-point line, forcing big men on the opposition out of the paint. This luxury is something that most winning teams need, and the Mavericks now finally have a big that can play in the paint, put the ball on the floor, and spot up on the perimeter.

This will instantly make life easier for Cooper Flagg, giving him the driving lanes he needs to attack the basket.

Aldama's ability to attack closeouts, play in transition, and provide connectivity off the ball makes him an underrated offensive player, and the Mavs may have found a hidden gem who has played in their division over the last five years. Dusty May will be able to use him in a variety of different ways, and his floor-spacing is the cherry on top of the 7-footer's game.

While it isn't the huge splash many Mavs fans were hoping for, the trade for Santi Aldama is a good move on the margins that helps the team this upcoming season. After passing on Brayden Burries in the draft, the Mavericks desperately needed shooting, and they seem to finally be prioritizing that with this recent trade with Memphis.

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