This post was originally published on this site.
At 13-14, the Golden State Warriors are in need of roster upgrades, and one team they are likely to have trade talks with is the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs are 10-17. Their previous architect, Nico Harrison, was fired in early November. They don’t have a permanent GM replacement yet, but it’s likely that whoever they choose will make big changes to surround Cooper Flagg with young talent.
Not surprisingly, Shams Charania reported Thursday that the Mavs are exploring the trade markets for Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and D’Angelo Russell.
Here are three trade ideas to help the Warriors contend and the Mavs get more youth and draft capital.
Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and a 2027 First-Round Pick for Anthony Davis
This is very close to what the Warriors and Mavs were dealing in Kevin Pelton’s four-team trade that had the Warriors getting Davis.
The main difference is the Mavs demand a 2027 first-round pick (instead of 2026) because a) they currently don’t have one and b) they would be betting on a total injury- and age-related Warriors collapse in 2026-27.
As I wrote here, trading Green for Davis is worth the risk. Green is a more impactful defender than Davis, but the gap on offense is much bigger and in Davis’ favor. Davis is the type of play finisher that would change everything for the Warriors offense.
The Mavs are happy to get off Davis’ three-year, $175.4 million contract. They may not have many other suitors for him.
And of course they get a three-month look at how Kuminga fits with Flagg before deciding whether to exercise the team option in his contract.
Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and a 2032 Second-Round Pick for Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson
The headline of this trade would be a Thompson reunion, but the key to the trade would be Gafford.
The 6’10” center would immediately become the Warriors’ team leader in rebounds per 36 minutes (9.9) and blocks per 36 minutes (2.2). He’d also be far and away Golden State’s most prolific big man paint scorer. He averages 6.3 points in the paint per game, per NBA.com. Draymond Green (2.8), Quentin Post (2.4) and Al Horford (1.1) average 6.3 combined.
Gafford is signed through 2028-29 at a reasonable rate, which probably gives him more trade value than Kuminga, so the Warriors throw in a second-round pick.
Meanwhile, Thompson probably has negative trade value at this point. He’s making $16.7 million this season and $17.4 million next season, and he’s not producing enough to justify that contract with just 11.1 points per game on 36.1 percent three-point shooting.
But he’s still an upgrade on Buddy Hield, who is shooting just 31.5 percent from three.
Hield can be bought out for $3 million in the offseason, so this actually works out nicely for a Dallas team likely looking for more cap flexibility.
Moses Moody, Al Horford and a 2032 Second-Round Pick for Daniel Gafford
The Warriors might want to use the Kuminga-and-picks package for something the Mavs don’t have, but this package might be another way to get Gafford.
This is an intriguing idea if the Warriors acquire a wing in another trade.
Moses Moody is a 23-year-old three-and-D wing on a team-friendly three-year, $37.5 million contract. The Mavs already have their long-term center in Dereck Lively II, but they don’t have any young wing talent aside from Flagg.
Gafford would likely start and take a lot of pressure off Green, who is currently playing more center minutes than an undersized 35-year-old should.