5 Wings the Mavericks must trade for after Lakers stole away Finney-Smith

On Sunday morning, the unthinkable happened for Dallas Mavericks fans.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, and now one of the most loved Mavericks of the Luka Doncic era is heading to Los Angeles to team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Despite being interested in Finney-Smith last season ahead of the trade deadline, there were no reports or rumors that Dallas was in play for him this season. The connection between Finney-Smith and Dallas is undeniable though, and since the Mavs are looking to bolster their frontcourt, Finney-Smith would have been the perfect player for them to trade for.

Trade targets the Mavs should pursue after Lakers landed Finney-Smith

Now Mavs fans will be forced to watch Finney-Smith sport the purple and gold for the Lakers until at least the end of this year as he has a player option this summer. He was the one player that many Mavs fans were begging Nico Harrison to make a move for, and now they'll have to pivot and look elsewhere to improve their depth.

There are still plenty of other wings on the open market that would fit Dallas' roster, and acquiring any of these players in a trade could be the boost that the Mavericks need to be on level with the Boston Celtics as trade rumors heat up over the next few weeks.

5. Bruce Brown

Mavericks fans know the name Bruce Brown well following the rumors that Dallas would pursue him the summer before last, and he may be the perfect wing that they should target to improve their point-of-attack defense.

Brown made his season debut on Sunday night following a knee surgery that kept him out since September and finished with 12 points, three rebounds, and one steal while shooting 6-12 from the field in 19 minutes.

His defensive versatility and dedication to doing the little things would make him a good fit in Dallas, and playing next to Luka Doncic could help him get his 3-point shooting numbers back up to where they need to be.

He's not the type of player who would be able to be Dallas' new backup power forward if they were to trade Maxi Kleber (as he has been in trade rumors for some time now) considering he is only 6-foot-4, but he would give Dallas' bench unit another lockdown defender to pair alongside Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes.

4. Cameron Johnson

The Mavericks could shock everyone and pursue Cameron Johnson after his teammate Finney-Smith was traded to the Lakers, and asking price aside, he would thrive in Dallas.

Johnson is averaging 19.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from downtown, and he is nearly posting career-highs across the board. Brooklyn is looking to secure multiple first-round picks in a deal for Johnson, but if the Mavs were able to somehow convince the Nets to lower the asking price and sweeten the deal with some young talent, Dallas should be all over it.

The Mavericks could even consider finding a way to start both him and P.J. Washington if they were to make such a deal and use a massive lineup, but this type of deal still wouldn't replace the defense lost by moving Kleber.

3. Matisse Thybulle

The Mavericks pursued Matisse Thybulle hard in free agency in the summer of 2023, and he even ended up signing an offer sheet with Dallas (since he was a restricted free agent), but Portland matched the three-year contract and he remained with the Blazers.

This wasn't a deal that Thybulle wasn't necessarily thrilled about since he wanted to be a Maverick badly, and Dallas should consider pursuing him once again, but this time, via the trade market. Thybulle has not played all season due to a knee injury and ankle injury, and the Mavs could trade for him now while his asking price may be lower due to the injuries.

Last season for Portland, Thybulle averaged 5.4 points and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from downtown, and his defense continues to be elite.

Standing at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, he would become Dallas' defensive ace who can guard multiple positions, and his contract would nearly match up perfectly with Kleber's if they were to trade him in this potential deal.

2. Herbert Jones

When discussing who the Mavs could pursue on the trade market, the first name that comes to fans' minds is immediately Herbert Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans. Jones has been one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA for years, and his fit in the starting lineup next to Doncic and Kyrie Irving would be a dream come true.

This season for New Orleans, Jones is averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 42 percent from the field, and he may be the type of player that Dallas needs to truly take the next step and gear up for the playoff push.

There have been rumblings that New Orleans isn't looking to trade Jones, but with his efficiency and availability taking a big dip this season, maybe the Mavs could sway New Orleans the other way by dangling a first-round pick or two in a deal.

Trading both of their tradeable first-round picks in a deal for Jones would be a risky approach, but it could be worth it in the long run if Dallas was able to secure a guaranteed trip to the NBA Finals.

1. Obi Toppin

When thinking about who would best replace Kleber of any player on this list, Obi Toppin of the Indiana Pacers may be the best option. He is a true power forward, and his athleticism, defense, and 3-point shooting could be attractive to Harrison and company when considering how they can upgrade their roster.

He is averaging 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from downtown, and if the Pacers feel inclined to move him, the Mavs should strike while the iron is hot.

Toppin is in the first year of a four-year, $60 million deal with Indiana, and he is only 26 years old. This would almost guarantee him as another player who would be in Dallas for years to come as he enters his prime.

Toppin isn't necessarily a "wing" like the aforementioned four players, but his athleticism could help take this team to the next level and make their bench even more elite.