It is that time of year, where we finished with Christmas cheer and the New Year has given much hope and renewal of confidence as new goals present themselves to us. This isn’t unlike the NBA. There are some teams that have a renewal of hope. However, maybe they’re a contender that is getting a piece back that is healthy,they have a clear vision that they need help that isn't coming or that they need to give coveted pieces away to those in need. It is NBAs most fun time of year.
In the Mavs case, there are specific targets that have been recently identified by NBA Analyst James Weinbech on the Mavs post-Christmas, pre-Valentines day wish list. Here are their names, numbers, addresses and in most cases there are no trade backs.
Jerami Grant- Portland Trailblazers
Age: 29 6’8” 210lbs
Contract
2023/24
$27,586,207
2024/25
$29,793,104
2025/26
$32,000,001
2026/27
$34,206,898
2027/28
$36,413,790
Current Averages
21.7ppg/3.6rpg/2.4apg/.8spg/.7blg
48.7% from 2 (11.1/g)
40.3% from 3 (5.4/g)
80.3% from FT (5.4/g)
52.5% efg
Jerami Grant represents a player that on paper has everything you want. He has size, versatility. He can shoot the 3, put it on the floor.and in theory, he can play a little bit of defense. Jerami’s defensive chops are more from his reputation when he was playing with Denver. Over the last several years with Detroit and Portland, he has let things on that side of the ball lapse, choosing to instead focus on his offensive skill set. He represents an upgrade to the starting lineup that desperately needs more consistent scoring help for Luka and Kyrie. If he put in the same energy on defense when he was with Denver this would be a great move for the Mavericks. Although, in a recent interview he indicated he would not welcome a change and is happy in Portland.
Kyle Kuzma- Washington Wizards
Age: 28, 6’9” 220lbs
Contract
2023/24
$25,568,182
2024/25
$23,522,727
2025/26
$21,477,272
2026/27
$19,431,819
Current Averages
21.8ppg/6.4rpg/4.3apg/.5spg/.6bpg
51.7% from 2 (12/g)
34.3% from 3 (6.7/g)
78.7% from FT (3.2/g)
51.6% eFG
Kuzma is a polarizing figure. He is routinely on twitter making controversial statement. Such as, the Mavs don't play winning basketball. He has feuded with former WCF Mav guard, Spencer Dinwiddie. On the court he does a little of everything and some of it not well. Defensively, he is not good. He is not really good off the ball and does not create a lot of turnovers or deflections where he is in the 2nd percentile. OOF. However, as a tertiary playmaker he is really good, he is in the 90th percentile and has a passer rating in the 66th percentile. He is a scorer, albeit not the most efficient scorer. In a tertiary score role perhaps he would become more efficient. It is something that the Maverick will have to weigh. There is upside, he is a good rebounder for his position and has good size.
Daniel Gafford- Washington Wizards
Age: 25, 6’10” 235lb
Contract
2023/24
$12,402,000
2024/25
$13,394,160
2025/26
$14,386,320
Current Averages
10.5ppg/7.6rpg/1.6apg/.9spg/2.1bpg
68.5% from 2 (6.3/g)
0.0% from 3 (None Taken)
72.7% from FT (2.4/g)
68.5% eFG
The other Wizard, Gafford AKA “The Landlord” is a long defender that has good instincts to defend the rim. His over 2bpg would be a nice change for when Lively is off the court. He's not tall but has a good wingspan and athleticism. He is great on the boards . His role offensively would a roll man. His current PNR partners are not always the greatest, however he make the most of the opportunities when he gets them. He is in the 98% as a roll man, which would factor in well with Luka. He plays well in space and has the determination to be one of the best big man defenders in the league. A Lively/Gafford duo would provide the Mavs with a dynamic big man duo they have lacked since the 2011 season.
PJ Washington- Charlotte Hornets
Age 25 6’7” 230lbs
Contract
2023/24
$16,847,826
2024/25
$15,500,000
2025/26
$14,152,174
Current Averages
12.7ppg/5.2rpg/2.1apg/.9spg/.7bpg
52.8% from 2 (5.7/g)
31.7% from 3 (5.5/g)
75.8% from FT (1.9/g)
50.3 eFG
PJ Washington is coming off his best year and was rewarded with a 3yr and $46M contract in his RFA. He wasnt really pursued by many teams so his FA was more like a hostage negotiation than him really wanting to return to the Hornets. I am sure he was grateful, but i think his heart is elsewhere. You can see that in his play this year. He has not been nearly as good. He is down in just about every statistical category. If he resorts to last years player it would create another dynaminc in the Mavs offense and defense. He is not known as a 3 point shooter but he does shoot for his career 36% on 5/g with a career high of 38.6%. He was used as a floor spacer at the 5 position and his 7’2” wingspan allows him to guard 5 positions. This is definitely a buy low candidate that could be very fruitful in Dallas.
Isaiah Stewart- Detroit Pistons
Age 22, 6’8” 250
Contract
2023/24
$5,266,713
2024/25
$15,000,000
2025/26
$15,000,000
2026/27
$15,000,000
2027/28
$15,000,000
Current Averages
10.8ppg/6.9rpg/1.8apg/.3spg/.7bpg
53.0% from 2 (4.9/g)
38.5% from 3 (3.8/g)
73.6% from FT (1.7/g)
55.0% eFG
Isaiah Stewart, the man known for going crazy to get to Lebron. Stewart is a young and improving player but it is hard to get a read on him as a player or even any Pistion player at the moment. He plays hard on a nightly basis and is very strong big body. His offensive skill set is mostly dunks and 3 point shooting. He does have decent touch from about 16ft but he doesn't shoot from mid range very often. Defensively he competes hard and is solid defensively. He isnt an anchor of a defense but will try hard. He is a good defensive rebounder but offensively he is not around the rim player so he doesnt crash the offenseive glass. His contract may make him a prohibitive option, however he is young and sometimes you pay for the opportunity to see a player grow.
Chris Boucher
Age 31, 6’9” 200lbs
Contract
2023/24
$11,750,000
2024/25
$10,810,000
Current Averages
6.2ppg/4.0rpg/.4apg/.3spg/.5bpg
58.6% from 2 (2.5/g)
32.9% from 3 (2.0/g)
74.3% from FT (1.8/g)
54.5% eFG%
Chris Boucher would undoubtedly cost the least to get. He doesn't seem to fit the new Raptors timeline. I do not see him as a huge upgrade over what the Mavs have in place already, but he could help the big man depth. As a player that is not a high minute player but when he is on the court he can be seen as a decent defender and is normally efficient offensively. He will shoot the occasional 3, but he is not great at it. His contract would be a good offseason expirer to use in trade.
Other names that have been floated around for the Mavs are:
Deni Adjvia, Quentin Grimes, Buddy Heild, Wendell Carter Jr, Bruce Brown