The Mavericks have spent much of the offseason making noise, from bringing in a new head coach and a new front office to taking Morez Johnson Jr. 9th overall and standing firm on Kyrie Irving. But one of their quietest moves may end up mattering the most.
Dallas pulled off a trade that sent a top-20 protected Warriors pick in 2030, a couple of second-rounders, and A.J. Johnson to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic. Johnson was later dealt again to the New Orleans Pelicans, a reminder of how his career has unfolded so far.
On paper, the Mavericks turned a player who was not expected to crack the rotation and some low-value draft capital into two legitimate rotation pieces. More importantly, they addressed one of their biggest issues from last season: shooting from deep.
Aldama brings a real answer in the frontcourt. He hit 35% of his three-pointers last season and has hovered near that number for his career, giving Dallas a stretch option at 7 feet. He also brings defensive versatility, the kind the Mavericks have had since prime Maxi Kleber, which feels like a lifetime ago.
Biberovic adds another layer. He was one of the best shooters in the world over the last few years while playing for Fenerbahce in Turkey, and he does it with volume. That alone could put him in the rotation right away, even though this will be his first NBA season.
There was interest around the league in Biberovic, the former 56th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but Dallas was able to get him to come over on a two-year, $6 million deal with a team option for the second year.
The Mavericks also bought out Klay Thompson so he could sign with the Miami Heat, which opened wing minutes for someone like Biberovic.
For a team that struggled badly from three last year, these are the kind of additions that can quietly change the shape of a roster. Dallas gave up very little, got back useful shooting, and improved its depth without paying a heavy price.
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