Rationale for Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks had a historically efficient offense this season and adding one of the league’s elite high-volume perimeter shooters in Buddy Hield would only add to that.
Last season, Tim Hardaway Jr. was an elite spot-up shooter and provided a complementary scoring impact using ball screens. The Mavericks need to determine if that is a repeatable level of production from him, or if selling high on his strong season is the right course of action.
One distinction between Hield and Hardaway Jr. is the greater ability the Kings guard has to make impact in off-screen situations. There would be some additional dimensions possible for the Mavericks’ offense.
It’s fascinating to think about the potential for Buddy Hield when playing alongside Luka Doncic. If Dallas believes having a more versatile shooting threat is worth the additional salary cap spending, then making this move would be a logical one.
It has been a struggle for the Mavericks to take swings in free agency and successfully convert. Making their next move using a trade would prevent them from having open cap space and coming up empty.