SerpApi.Org
The Dallas Mavericks made another move toward a younger timeline by acquiring Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team trade with the Hawks and Thunder. Dallas sent Ryan Nembhard and a future second-round pick, then used part of the Anthony Davis trade exception to absorb Risacher’s $13.8 million salary.
Risacher averaged 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 22.4 minutes last season, shooting 45.5% from the field with a 55.7% true shooting percentage. Those numbers aren’t special, and his playing time in the postseason shrunk. Still, Dallas didn’t acquire him to carry an offense. The idea is to develop a long, athletic wing next to Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks during his Rookie of the Year season.
There is one obvious issue. Dallas keeps adding forwards and big men while losing ball-handling. Nembhard averaged 5.3 assists in only 19.5 minutes and finished the season with a rookie-record 23 assists in one game. The Mavericks now project to have Kyrie Irving, Marcus Sasser, and Sergio De Larrea as their main guards, while Flagg will again be forced to create more offense than a 20-year-old forward probably should.
The Mavericks finished 26-56 with a 111.2 offensive rating, scored 114.1 points per game, and allowed 119.6 points. The roster had talent, but the offense rarely produced easy makes. Flagg shot only 29.5% from three, and Dallas can’t expect him to run every pick-and-roll while also defending the best opposing forward. A young lead guard has to be the next major target.
Marc Stein reported that Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford are the veterans Dallas appears most open to trading. That gives the Mavericks enough salary and value to chase another young player without moving the main young core. These three targets make the most sense, even if each one comes with a different level of risk.
3. Scoot Henderson
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Scoot Henderson, Vit Krejci
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: P.J. Washington
Scoot Henderson is the clear buy-low option here. He hasn’t turned into the franchise guard everyone expected when the Trail Blazers picked him No. 3 in the 2023 NBA Draft, but he showed some real progress in his third season, even though injuries messed things up.
Henderson averaged 14.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 24.9 minutes across 30 games. He shot 41.8% from the field, 35.2% from three, and 84.0% from the free-throw line. His season was pretty weird because a sequence of injuries kept him out until February, so he never really got into a normal rhythm with training camp or the regular season.
Still, he dropped the best game of his career in the playoffs: 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting with 5-of-9 from three in a Game 2 win over the Spurs. That performance gives Dallas a taste of the upside they would be chasing. Henderson can put serious pressure on the paint, explode in transition, and create his own shot when the offense gets stuck.
Right now in Portland, they have Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe all fighting for perimeter minutes. The Blazers should think Holiday isn’t really available, and Morant is locked into the first year of a big two-year, $87.1 million remaining contract. Henderson will also be a restricted free agent next summer if they don’t extend him. There just isn’t a clear path for him to be the main guy anymore.
P.J. Washington would help Portland right away. Last season, he put up 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He only shot 32.5% from three, but he has already shown he can defend both forward spots, rebound hard, and play off the ball. Since Portland traded Jerami Grant in the Morant deal, Washington could slide right in as the starting power forward next to Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan.
The money works out fine too. Henderson makes $13.6 million, and Krejci makes $2.7 million, so Portland sends out around $16.3 million. Washington earns $19.8 million, which is about a $3.5 million difference. The Blazers stay under the first apron, so they can take the extra salary without big problems.
For Dallas, this would be a bet on potential more than what Henderson is doing right now. His 3.7 assists and 2.8 turnovers aren’t great for a full-time lead guard, and his shooting is still up and down. But at only 22 years old, with that explosive first step, playing next to Kyrie could make things much easier for him. The Mavericks could stagger the two guards, let Henderson cook against second units, and slowly get him ready as Irving’s long-term replacement.
2. Keyonte George
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Keyonte George, John Konchar
Utah Jazz Receive: Daniel Gafford, Marcus Sasser, 2029 first-round pick (via Lakers), 2031 first-round pick (top-five protected), 2033 first-round pick (top-ten protected)
Keyonte George would cost a lot more because he already played like a borderline All-Star last season. The 22-year-old guard put up 23.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 33.1 minutes. He shot 45.6% from the field, 37.1% from three, and 89.2% from the line. He was making 2.5 threes and 6.2 free throws per game.
Those numbers are exactly why Dallas should be interested. The Jazz guard can score at all three levels, but he has grown as a playmaker as his assists jumped from 4.4 to 6.1. He still had 3.1 turnovers, but that’s not terrible for a young guy carrying the offense on a 22-win team. Utah was really bad last year, with the worst defense and a minus-8.1 point differential, so George was doing that in a tough situation.
He would fit perfectly with Flagg and Risacher. George could run the main actions, Flagg attacks the second side, and Risacher focuses on cuts and spot-up threes. Irving could play more off the ball, which keeps him dangerous at 34 without having to create everything. Suddenly, Dallas would have three guys who can drop 20 points and two solid pick-and-roll creators.
Utah doesn’t really have a basketball reason to trade George right now, and there hasn’t been any direct link to Dallas. But the roster is getting crowded after they drafted Darryn Peterson No. 2, already have Ace Bailey, and added Jaren Jackson Jr. Plus, there were reports back in June that extension talks with George weren’t going well. That kind of thing can open the door fast if Peterson turns into their new cornerstone guard.
The Mavericks would have to give up some value. Gafford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.7 minutes on 65.5% shooting. He is elite at rim protection and offensive rebounding. Sasser adds another young guard who shot 41.5% from three. The picks are the key piezes of the puzzle, as George would demand that kind of return if he becomes an All-Star on a winning side next season.
This is probably the highest-upside move of the three. George is already much better than Henderson, and his shooting fits great. The only problem is the price, as Utah might want even more to let go of their draftee talent. Dallas should be careful not to overpay.
1. Darius Garland
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Darius Garland
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Marcus Sasser, 2031 first-round pick (top-five protected)
Darius Garland is the best target because Dallas wouldn’t have to wait for him to develop. Last season, he averaged 18.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists while shooting 46.0% from the field, 39.6% from three, and 86.1% from the line. He made 2.7 threes per game and had a solid 58.2% true shooting percentage even after getting traded mid-season.
At 26 years old, he is already a former All-Star and stays under contract through 2027-28. He will make $42.2 million next year and $44.9 million in the last year. It’s a big number, but it’s not a short rental. Garland could be the starting point guard next to Flagg and Risacher for the next two seasons at least.
His offensive fit feels perfect. Garland is shooting over 39% from three on good volume and takes care of the ball pretty well (6.7 assists to 2.9 turnovers). Dallas could run nice high pick-and-rolls with him and Lively, use Flagg as a short-roll passer, and keep Risacher in the corner. Irving and Garland would be small on defense, but they could stagger their minutes and let the young big guys cover the length.
There hasn’t been any real reporting that the Clippers want to move him. They got him from Cleveland for James Harden and drafted Keaton Wagler to play with him. But if they decide they need more assets after going 42-40 and missing the playoffs, this kind of deal could make sense to give Wagler complete control of the offense as their No. 5 pick.
For the Clippers, the return would be strong. Washington gives them a young 6’7″ forward locked up long-term. Gafford becomes a real athletic center, Sasser is a cheap guard, and the protected pick adds value down the line.
The salaries match almost perfectly: Dallas sends out about $42.3 million and gets Garland’s $42.2 million, actually saving a tiny bit. The Mavericks already have plenty of frontcourt guys (Flagg, Risacher, Aldama, Johnson, Lively, Cisse), so they can afford to move some of them for the right guard.
Henderson is the cheaper gamble, George has the biggest breakout potential, but Garland is the one who can help right now. After getting Risacher basically for free, Dallas should be ready to use their extra bigs and one protected pick to fix the backcourt and give their young core what it really needs.
