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Will Mavs make a big move at the trade deadline?
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Dallas Mavericks
Record: 28-24
6th in West
Status: Buyers
As long as Dirk Nowitzki is playing at a high level, the Mavericks figure to remain in a win-now mode. The possibility briefly existed that Dallas might spend a season in a lottery after DeAndre Jordan reneged on his agreement to sign with the team last summer, but the Mavericks regrouped by adding veterans Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia to put together a roster that currently sits sixth in the Western Conference.
While Dallas' peripherals aren't nearly as impressive -- the team has been outscored this season despite a record four games better than .500 -- the Mavericks' immediate goal is to try to finish fifth in the West to avoid facing one of the conference's three most powerful teams in the opening round.
Because most of Dallas' salary is tied up in core players, it's unlikely the team makes a major move at the deadline. A run at a player bought out by his team might be a more realistic scenario for adding to the roster.
Potential targets
Signing Johnson after the deadline would give the Mavericks more size to deal with the possibility of facing Kevin Durant in the playoffs.
Kevin Martin
If Dallas believes Johnson is likely to sign with a championship contender, swapping Felton and a player making the veteran's minimum for Martin would be another way to get a true wing reserve. However, adding Martin could limit the Mavericks' flexibility next summer (he has a $7.4 million player option that would cut into the team's cap space) and he's hardly a defensive upgrade. They should probably pass.
Most trade value
1. Dirk Nowitzki
Surely Nowitzki will retire having played only for the Mavericks rather than ever make it to the trade market. Hypothetically, his $8.3 million salary would make him a great trade value, albeit limited by his ability to become a free agent next summer instead of picking up an $8.7 million option.
2. Chandler Parsons
Coming off an unproven alternative to microfracture surgery over the summer, Parsons was inevitably limited early in 2015-16. Since Jan. 1, he's averaging 16.0 points and 5.9 rebounds, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range.
The return to form has come just in time for Parsons to cash in this summer. In potential trades, few teams would surrender much for a player who can opt to become an unrestricted free agent.
3. Justin Anderson
The only first-round pick on his original contract on the Dallas roster, Anderson has played sparingly as a rookie -- only 245 minutes so far. He hasn't shot the ball well, making 20.6 percent of his 3s, which might make it difficult for the Mavericks to get an equivalent pick in return if they wanted to move Anderson. Still, someone would surely be interested in a 22-year-old with 3-and-D potential.
4. Zaza Pachulia
It's hard to believe in hindsight that nobody was willing to offer the Milwaukee Bucks real value for Pachulia last summer. Looking to shed salary after signing Greg Monroe as a replacement, the Bucks gave him to Dallas for a second-round pick that is top-55 protected. All Pachulia has done is play at nearly an All-Star level this season on a reasonable $5.2 million salary in the final year of his contract.
5. Deron Williams
Williams' stats aren't actually all that different from his performance in Brooklyn, but a $5.4 million price tag has made that production a lot more palatable. Alas, Williams, too, has a player option for 2016-17 and figures to get a big raise given the limited market for point guards this summer.
6. Wesley Matthews
Predictably, Matthews has struggled to come back from the ruptured Achilles he suffered last season and is shooting a career-worst 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. Given his age (29) and the $53.7 million he's owed over the next three years, Matthews might be considered by many teams a liability rather than having positive trade value.
Most valuable draft pick
2018 first-rounder
Barring an enormous collapse, the Mavericks will send this year's first-round pick (top-7 protected) to the Boston Celtics to complete the Rajon Rondo trade. After that, Dallas' debts are clear, meaning the Mavs could trade their 2018 pick. At some point, though, they will need to begin stockpiling young talent to prepare for life after Nowitzki's retirement.
Toughest contract to trade
J.J. Barea
Barea continues to give the Mavericks solid minutes as a backup point guard. However, he'll be 32 in June and relies heavily on his quickness to compensate for being undersized. Even a slight decline could leave Barea scarcely better than replacement level and he's due $11.7 million over the next three seasons.
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