Thunder's rumored trade candidate makes too much sense for Mavericks to ignore

The Dallas Mavericks should undoubtedly target Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe in a trade this summer, as the Thunder have a complex cap situation with so many future first-round picks and trying to avoid the second apron, and Joe makes amazing sense for a 3-point shooting deprived team in Dallas.

The Thunder may have the deepest guard rotation in the league right now, especially given the ascension of Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell, so they can't keep all of their young guards forever. Players like Joe and Aaron Wiggins have already been in trade rumors this offseason, and they’re certainly subject to be moved. This was especially true after Joe's role diminished with the Thunder in the playoffs, as he registered a DNP-CD in Game's 1 and 7 of the Western Conference Finals.

Joe is set to make $11.3 million next season, and will have a team option for the same amount in the following season, so he'd be guaranteed to be in Dallas for basically two more seasons at a cost-controlled figure if they trade for him.

Dallas should trade for Isaiah Joe

Whether Dallas would trade for Joe straight up or simply absorb him into their $20.8 million trade exception created from the Anthony Davis trade, is really what would determine how they'd ultimately acquire him. The Thunder would likely want something back for a player like Joe, whether it's a young flyer or a bigger-bodied wing, so it'd be interesting to see the type of framework that could send him to Dallas.

Nonetheless, Joe's fit with the Mavericks makes too much sense. He's shown flashes of being a capable three-level scorer, and shot a career-high 42.3 percent from outside last season. He's entering his prime by turning 27 years old in July, and is undoubtedly due for a bigger role given the Thunder's logjam at guard.

At 6-foot-4, Joe is a sneaky athlete that is a decent defender at the point of attack, even if that end of the floor isn't necessarily his calling card. He'd be a more reliable option offensively compared to someone like Max Christie in Dallas' starting lineup next to Kyrie Irving, and would have the ability to increase his volume tremendously in Dallas after only starting in 36 games for the Thunder across four seasons with them.

Joe is cost-controlled and would be a perfect fit in Dallas

The Mavericks need a point guard or shooting guard badly this summer, and if they don't address that matter with the ninth pick in the NBA Draft on Tuesday, then trading for someone like Joe would be a great reconciliation effort.

Even if Dallas does draft a guard on Tuesday, they'd be smart to take advantage of the Thunder's roster crunch in some capacity, as it's not often a team is so good they have to sacrifice some role players to keep their payroll sustainable.

Joe would be a perfect fit in Dallas, whether he's coming off the bench or starting, and he's far less costly compared to some of the guards Dallas could target with the MLE this summer. He's been flying under the radar over the past handful of seasons, as the Thunder are so deep at the guard position that he hasn't been able to get the minutes he rightfully deserves, so the Mavericks should definitely pounce on the opportunity to trade for him if given the chance.

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