Would this trade make sense for the Dallas Mavericks?

For the Dallas Mavericks, this trade would see them pair Luka Doncic with an elite defender in Marcus Smart. Doncic is an offensive genius, so why not pair him with an All-NBA First Team defender to help mask some of his issues on that end of the floor.

Smart would also be able to take on some ball-handling duties if the Mavericks needed him to, but he’d mainly be there for his defense. Having him there would help set up a defensive-minded culture around Doncic in Dallas (and would also bring Smart home).

Dennis Schroder would be thrown in this deal as a short-term solution to losing Brunson. He’s a free agent at the end of the year, so the Mavs would have to worry about re-signing him, but he’d give them some quality bench minutes this year.

Lastly, Aaron Nesmith would be a nice piece for the Mavs to take a chance on. If he could get some more run in Dallas than he has in Boston, Nesmith has the potential to turn into a serious 3&D threat. That’s the type of player the Mavericks should want around Doncic.

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Overall, this deal would be a solid shake-up for the Mavs. It would also allow them to sell high on Brunson without having to worry about re-signing him. Smart’s defense, Schroder’s ball-handling, and Nesmith’s potential might just be enough to get this deal done.