The Dallas Mavericks begin the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Sunday on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers, and supporters are eager for a rematch after the Mavs lost to them in the first round in 2020 and 2021.

The entire city is buzzing in anticipation of this big series, and both teams are working hard to get healthy before this highly anticipated battle.

Both teams have been dealing with ailments, and the Mavericks may be catching the Clippers at the right time owing to Kawhi Leonard’s uncertain availability.

Grade the Trade: Mavericks sign Warriors sharpshooter in surprising deal.

There is some doubt that he will be available for game one, and Dereck Lively II practiced extensively on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Lively II had a knee sprain at the end of March and should be ready to play on Sunday.

With the entire NBA world focused on the 2024 NBA Playoffs, several teams’ offseasons have already begun. Teams that did not make the Play-In Tournament or lost in the Play-In Tournament (if they were a nine or ten seed) have already returned home, and their attention has changed to the summer and how to create the greatest squad possible for next season.

One of those clubs is the Golden State Warriors, whose big three of Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green may not be together next season. The Warriors were defeated by the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday night, and it may be time for some significant adjustments in The Bay to return to championship-winning form.

In this proposal, the Dallas Mavericks negotiate a massive trade with the Golden State Warriors for one of their top shooters.

Here, we grade this blockbuster transaction for both teams and discuss the benefits and drawbacks for each.

Mavericks sign Klay Thompson from Warriors in a mock blockbuster.

In this fake blockbuster, the Dallas Mavericks get one of the best shooters of this age from the Golden State Warriors for a low price.

Klay Thompson is expected to test the free agency market, and in this scenario, the Warriors receive some value for him from Dallas. The Mavericks had already been mentioned as a potential suitor, and teaming him with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving may be beneficial to his career in the latter stages.

With Dallas’ current cap space, the only way to get him appears to be through a sign and trade, and this fake move significantly enhances the Mavs’ 3-point shooting ability.

Dallas Mavericks LogoDallas Mavericks Receive

Klay Thompson (Sign and Trade – Three Years, $60 Million).

Golden State Warriors’ LogoGolden State Warriors Receive

Timothy Hardaway Jr.

Jaden Hardy

A three-year, $60 million contract would be a steal for Thompson, and that may be the range of contracts he signs this offseason. He certainly isn’t the great player he once was, and a fresh start could be beneficial to both sides.

After losing Thompson, the Warriors replaced him with another shooter, Tim Hardaway Jr., and a youthful spark plug off the bench, Jaden Hardy. Both players have expiring contracts, and the Warriors can let them go if they don’t fit in or play well.

The aforementioned trade would be the low end of Thompson’s contract, but the Mavs could potentially include draft capital or perhaps sell Maxi Kleber or Josh Green.

Next, we evaluate the proposed trade and examine why each team would or would not make the transaction.

Grading the trade for the Golden State Warriors.

In this hypothetical blockbuster trade, the Golden State Warriors would end the “Splash Brothers” era. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry helped launch a dynasty that won numerous championships, but all good things must come to an end.

Thompson is an unrestricted free agent, so he could walk for nothing if he wanted, and the Warriors would receive no compensation for him. In this scenario, the Warriors help get Thompson to one of the NBA’s finest teams, which would not have been able to sign him otherwise.

In exchange for Thompson, the Warriors will replace his shooting with that of Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. has been struggling with his shooting recently, but he may simply need a change of scenery. He was enjoying a wonderful season at the start and was in contention for Sixth Man of the Year, but nothing has gone his way since.

This season for Dallas, Hardaway Jr. averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.5 steals a game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three. Something hasn’t been right with him since the trade deadline, and Dallas may be better off without him.

The Warriors also acquire youthful talent in Hardy, whose potential and scoring abilities off the bench may pique their interest.

Without acquiring draft capital, the Warriors receive a B- for this transaction.

Possible starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Grading the trade for the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks boast one of the top defenses in the NBA, and Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are having a tremendous season together.

The Mavericks have all of the resources to make a long playoff run this year, but even if they don’t make the Western Conference Finals or the NBA Finals this year, they’ll be favorites to do so the following season. Aside from Derrick Jones Jr., almost everyone on the team will be under contract, and the core will remain intact.

Adding Klay Thompson to their already stacked roster while trading Tim Hardaway Jr. would be major for Dallas since Thompson would be a significant upgrade over Hardaway Jr. Dallas has been hawking Hardaway Jr. for quite some time, and this deal would finally let them to get rid of him.

Trading Jaden Hardy is one aspect of the move that does not appear to be a horrible deal but may come back to hurt them later. Hardy hasn’t looked great lately, but his talent and youth remain appealing. Teams have inquired about Hardy in the past, and he may have more trade worth than Mavs supporters realize.

Dallas certainly needs more shooting, and this trade would bring in one of the best shooters of all time, who could start or come off the bench.

The Mavericks deserve an A- for this transaction because they finally get rid of Hardaway Jr. while acquiring a generational shooter in Thompson. Paying Thompson $20 million per year at his age and with his injury history may be risky, but it could be worthwhile in the end.