We are finally getting close to the playoff portion of the season, but some teams are already looking toward the off-season. One of those teams could be the Dallas Mavericks, as they are 37-40 on the season and in danger of missing the play-in tournament.
A potential off-season target for the Dallas Mavericks could be Draymond Green, and some have already predicted that he would join the franchise this off-season. A deal would likely have to come via sign-and-trade with the Warriors, as Green will likely test free agency and try to get a long-term deal with more guaranteed money than his player option. Here is a potential trade framework.
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Draymond Green (Sign-And-Trade)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Christian Wood (Sign-And-Trade), 2025 Second-Round Pick (DAL)
This trade could potentially have benefits for both teams involved. There are things that the Warriors and the Mavericks have to gain from this trade scenario, and here is why both teams should consider making this deal.
Dallas Mavericks Improve Their Defense By Adding Draymond Green
Draymond Green would likely only go to the Dallas Mavericks only if they are a contender, which means they would retain Kyrie Irving. A trio of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Draymond Green would be a threat to get out of the Western Conference.
The Dallas Mavericks’ biggest weakness right now is their defense. They traded away 3 and D forward Dorian Finney-Smith away in the Kyrie Irving trade, and they need someone who replicates his impact on that end of the floor.
Draymond Green is a former DPOY, and he is still one of the best defenders in the league today. His ability and game sense on that floor are second to none, and Green has shown that he can anchor a championship-level defense. He would also help unlock Luka Doncic off the ball and could be a great connective player on the offensive end.
Adding an elite player like Draymond Green could take the Dallas Mavericks to the next level as a team. They need to figure out how to build around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and adding Draymond Green would be a great first step. The Dallas Mavericks would have to add more players to become a true championship-level team, though, as adding Draymond Green alone is not going to make up for their lack of depth. However, it would make them a lot more competitive, and adding another player with championship experience could change things.
Golden State Warriors Get A Sharpshooting Big Man In Christian Wood
If Draymond Green decides to leave in free agency this year, the Golden State Warriors would likely want to try and negotiate a sign-and-trade rather than lose him for nothing. Adding Christian Wood would give them a more scoring-oriented big man that could potentially be a good fit within their system.
As of right now, Christian Wood is averaging 16.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.8 APG for the Dallas Mavericks, and the team has been bringing him off the bench. In this scenario, he would likely become the new power forward for the Golden State Warriors and would give them more size on the team. He is also a fantastic shooter for a big man, averaging 36.8% from the 3PT range.
Though Christian Wood is not great defensively, perhaps playing for Steve Kerr could bring the best out of him on that end of the floor. For example, Andrew Wiggins wasn’t known as an elite defender before his time there, and now he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Sometimes a change in system is all that is needed for a player to look better defensively, and the Warriors would have to hope that Christian Wood buys in on that end of the floor. One thing to note is that he would help them in terms of rebounding
Christian Wood is a talented offensive player, and adding him could help the Warriors get even better on that end. While their defense would take a hit without Draymond Green, adding Christian Wood and minor draft compensation could help the Warriors, both short-term and long-term. He would help bridge the gap between their two timelines as well, as he is only 27 as of right now and is in the middle of his prime.
This Is A Win-Win Trade For The Mavericks And Warriors
There is no doubt that this trade could end up helping both the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks would be adding a legitimate difference-maker for their team and ensuring that Luka Doncic remains happy playing for the team by getting him some help. The Warriors, meanwhile, would be netting a decent return for Draymond Green in a sign-and-trade. Though Christian Wood is not as good as Green, he would help the team mitigate some of the effects of Draymond Green leaving the team.
It remains to be seen if the two teams would ever consider making a double sign-and-trade with this framework. However, there are a few reasons that could happen. Since Draymond Green is a franchise legend, they would likely be willing to accommodate him when it involves getting him to the destination that he wants to go to. They did something similar with Kevin Durant in 2019 when he left for the Brooklyn Nets. The Dallas Mavericks are also in a similar position in terms of wanting something in return for Christian Wood rather than losing him for nothing in free agency.
This offseason will be interesting for both the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks, as both teams will have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to their rosters. This trade could help both teams re-tool around their superstar player, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.
Source: fadeawayworld
