The Mavericks already looked smart for landing Santi Aldama earlier this summer. Now the deal has another layer to it, because one of the pieces Dallas moved out in that six-team trade, AJ Johnson, has already been shipped off again by Memphis before ever playing a game for the Grizzlies.
That matters because Aldama fills a very real need in Dallas. The Mavericks were looking for a forward with size who could stretch the floor, and he should fit alongside Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Their center rotation had been lacking shooting, and Aldama gives the frontcourt a different kind of look as the Dusty May era gets going.
Johnson, meanwhile, never got much traction with Dallas. The Mavericks got him in the Anthony Davis trade with the Washington Wizards in February, and there was some early buzz around the former first-round pick.
But that faded fast. In 23 games with Dallas, the 21-year-old averaged 3.9 points per game while shooting 32.3 percent from the field and 15.6 percent from long range.
Those numbers help explain why the Mavs moved on. Johnson’s speed in transition flashed here and there, but his game was still very raw. The shooting simply wasn’t there for a team that badly needed more help from deep.
His fit was shaky, too. At 6-foot-5 and still skinny, he doesn’t cleanly slot into either guard spot.
He’s not a strong enough playmaker to run the point, and he’s not polished enough to handle a wing role. He looks several years away from being a real NBA rotation player, and Dallas didn’t have the time or patience to wait.
Memphis didn’t wait either. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies are sending Johnson and Taj Gibson to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a second-round pick, and a second-round pick swap. Johnson never even got a chance to see how he would fit with Cameron Boozer, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and the rest of Memphis’ young core.
The Grizzlies’ quick pivot says plenty about how they viewed Johnson, especially for a team deep in a rebuild and trying to collect young talent. Dallas gave up on him after a brief look. Memphis did the same even faster.
And that only makes the Aldama side of the trade look stronger for the Mavericks. If he settles in and gives them what they need next season, this already had the feel of a win. Johnson being moved again just sharpens that picture.
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From Dallas side, Gafford has naturally drawn attention because of the Mavericks depth in the frontcourt and the way his presence has changed the discussion around what kind of big men make sense on the roster. The Bulls could also be pulled into the same broader trade search if Charlotte keeps canvassing the market, but for now these remain speculative ideas built around fit, value, and which team is willing to make the first real move. [Read more 🡒]