Category: Dallas Mavericks Blog

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Mavericks trade for Klay Thompson

The Dallas Mavericks last week acquired five-time All-Star Klay Thompson and a future second-round pick as part of a six-team sign-and-trade deal in exchange for guard/forward Josh Green and a future second-round pick. The transaction is part of the first six-team trade in NBA history.

“We’re thrilled to have Klay join us in Dallas,” stated Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “As one of the league’s greatest shooters who competes on both ends, we feel Klay is a perfect fit for our team. He adds a strong, experienced veteran voice that will help us continue to build on the success we’ve seen in recent years. Klay’s championship experience, clutch performances and calm demeanor under pressure exemplify what it takes to win in the NBA at the highest level. He will help us continue to grow towards our goal of winning another championship.”

Thompson (6-6, 220), a five-time All-Star (2015-19), helped the Warriors to four NBA championships (2015, 2017, 2018, 2022) in an eight-year span from 2015 to 2022. A former teammate of Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving on the U.S. national teams that won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Thompson holds career averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 32.6 minutes in 793 games (742 starts) with Golden State while shooting 45.8% (5,794-12,782 FG) from the field, 41.3% (2,481-6,010 3FG) from 3-point range and 85.8% (1,462-1,704 FT) from the foul line.

Celtics take 1-0 NBA Finals lead on Mavericks

Per Boston.com:

In just of matter of minutes, Kristaps Porzingis quelled any questions and concerns about how effective he could be in his first game back from a calf injury.

The Celtics’ star big made plays on both ends of the court in the first quarter of Game 1, scoring 11 points to go with two blocks in the opening frame of Thursday’s 107-89 win. He wound up finishing with 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting to go with six rebounds and two blocks in just 21 minutes of action.

Even though Porzingis was quite effective on Thursday, even he had some questions on just how good he could be after missing the last 10 games due to a soleus strain in his calf. Porzingis hesitated Tuesday when asked if he was 100 percent, admitting Thursday that he wasn’t sure how his calf would feel in Game 1.

“I want to say I’m fine, but obviously, I haven’t played,” Porzingis told reporters. I haven’t had the feel of like, ‘Am I 100 percent?’ But tonight was an affirmation that I’m pretty good. Maybe I’m not perfect, but I’m pretty good and I can play like this. I can definitely add to this team.”

Per the Boston Globe:

As he entered the media room after the Mavericks’ Game 1 loss to the Celtics, one of his worst playoff performances in recent years, Kyrie Irving kept things light. He dribbled a basketball into the press conference and feigned like he was going to hand it to a media staffer before keeping hold of it, joking: “I need [the ball] right now. Didn’t shoot particularly well tonight.”

“Man, this is the best time of the year to be playing,” Irving said after Dallas fell, 107-89, to open the NBA Finals. “There’s two teams left, let’s put it in perspective. The environment’s going to be what it is, but my focus is on our game plan, making sure my guys feel confident and I feel confident and continue to shoot great shots.”

Irving finished with just 12 points on 6 of 19 shooting, missing all five 3-pointers he took. Irving heard loud boos every time he touched the ball and louder cheers on all 13 misses. It was his worst playoff shooting night (taking at least 10 shots) since his infamous final game as a Celtic, when he shot a paltry 6 of 21 in a blowout Game 5 loss to the Bucks in the second round of the 2019 postseason before bolting for Brooklyn.

Per the Boston Globe:

Jaylen Brown, meanwhile, picked up where he left off in the conference finals, in which he won series MVP. He finished with 22 points and six rebounds which sounds unremarkable, but his impact was hard to overstate.

Off the opening tip, Brown hit the floor and salvaged the first possession for the Celtics. He guarded Luka Doncic and played excellent 1-on-1 defense against the Mavericks star. He made numerous hustle plays, blocked three shots, and picked off three steals. When the Mavericks cut into the lead in the third quarter (more on this in a minute), Brown was the driving force (pun somewhat intended) as they pushed the lead back up.

“What you saw tonight is kind of the challenge he took for himself coming into the year,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Not wanting to be defined by one thing. Wanting to make plays. Wanted to be a well-rounded player and get better and better. So his spacing, his ball movement, his defense on ball and off ball.”

Per the Dallas Morning News:

And the Celtics’ fans did their part, too. Booing Irving every time he touched the ball, for both his failure to make an impact in Boston and his stomping on the leprechaun at midcourt during a Brooklyn playoff series a few years back, they got their money’s worth. Irving had 12 points, going 6-of-19 while missing all five 3-point tries in the contest.

Doncic led everyone with 30, as you might expect, but his 12-for-26 night was far from special by his standards, and his one assist gives an indication of how others were shooting and how disjointed this team seemed for much of the evening. Boston’s 37-20 lead after one quarter told most of the story as all five Celtics starters plus Porzingis scored in double-figures led by Jaylen Brown’s 22.

By the end, Boston’s 38% from 3-point range was not far from their norm, so it’s not as if the Mavericks can’t expect similar performances the rest of the way. Maybe the scariest thing for Dallas is that the Celtics played exemplary defense against Irving — much of it from specialist Jrue Holiday — and you would expect that to continue. Oklahoma City kept Irving in check in the second-round series and the Celtics have the same depth of talented defensive perimeter players along with much greater scoring ability.

Mavericks sign General Manager Nico Harrison to contract extension

The Dallas Mavericks have signed General Manager Nico Harrison to a multi-year contract extension.

“Nico Harrison has demonstrated his leadership and capabilities in the Dallas Mavericks organization,” stated Dallas Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont. “His vision, along with his efforts on behalf of our players and staff have propelled our team to two playoff appearances in three seasons and of course this year’s NBA Finals. We are proud to have him as part of our team for the long term, and we are excited to watch him continue to build on the foundation of success he has helped establish.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Patrick and the entire Dumont and Adelson family for their continued trust and confidence and to Mark for his willingness to hire an unconventional candidate,” stated Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “Patrick and his family have accepted me as their own from day one and I am honored to work alongside them, as well as Jason Kidd, as we continue to build a winning culture in Dallas.”

Nico Harrison was named general manager of the Dallas Mavericks on June 28, 2021. Harrison’s tenure, which saw the August 2021 signing of Luka Dončić to his record-setting rookie supermax extension deal and the 2023 NBA Draft selections of Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, also includes the recent 2023-24 trade deadline acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington Jr., which helped propel Dallas to its fifth division title in team history and third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

Harrison joined the Mavericks after spending 19 years at Nike, where he most recently held the title of Vice President of North America Sports Marketing. Prior to joining Nike in 2002, Harrison played professional basketball in Europe for over six years.

Thunder eliminated by Mavericks in second round of playoffs

Per the Oklahoman:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander buried his face in his jersey. Chet Holmgren clasped his hands on his head. Jalen Williams, after his desperation heave drifted wayward, bent over, hands on knees.

The game was epic, making the Thunder’s 117-116 defeat in Game 6 all the more agonizing.

Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City is headed home.

An electric fourth-quarter filled with spectacular shotmaking and would-be game-defining plays was decided by a whistle. A correct whistle, but a whistle nonetheless.

Gilgeous-Alexander, tremendous all night, fouled his old college buddy, P.J. Washington, on a 3-pointer with three seconds left.

Mayhem preceded the call.

FULL ARTICLE

Mavericks take 3-2 series lead on Thunder

Per the Dallas Morning News:

Sprained right knee. Sore left ankle and Achilles. Stiff back.

The accumulation of injuries clearly has taken a toll on Luka Doncic during this second-round series, but Wednesday night he conquered the pain, and Oklahoma City, by summoning Luka Magic in the Mavericks’ 104-92 Game 5 victory in Paycom Center.

“The old Luka, with a smile on my face,” as Doncic put it.

Was it vintage Playoff Luka? No, but he was plenty overpowering, with 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as Dallas took a 3-2 series lead over the No. 1 seed Thunder and moved within one victory of its second Western Conference finals berth in three seasons.

Not coincidentally, care to guess when and where and in what situation Doncic’s other dominant performance was since these injuries mounted? It was Game 5 of the first round, when he had 35 points and 10 assists in Los Angeles in a 30-point Dallas victory that broke a 2-2 series tie.

FULL ARTICLE

Mavericks sign guard AJ Lawson to multi-year contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard AJ Lawson to a multi-year contract.

Lawson (6-6, 185) is in his second season with Dallas after he signed a Two-Way deal with the team on Dec. 26, 2022, after beginning the year on a Two-Way contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 14 games for the Mavericks last year, he averaged 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game.

In 28 games for the Mavericks this season, he is averaging 3.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game. Lawson scored a career-high 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-2 FT) to go along with a career-high seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the team’s win against San Antonio on Dec. 23.

The Toronto, Ontario, native has averaged 20.7 points (.530 FG%), 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.6 steals with Dallas’s G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, in seven games this season.

In 43 career games with Minnesota and Dallas, Lawson has averaged 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 7.9 minutes.

Mavericks trade Richaun Holmes to Wizards for Daniel Gafford

The Washington Wizards have acquired center Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first round pick in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks for center Daniel Gafford.

“We welcome Richaun to our organization and look forward to him adding depth and a veteran presence to our frontcourt,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “We were also able to add a first round pick in the upcoming draft, which is in alignment with our strategy to continually increase our flexibility and move further toward our long-term goals.”

Holmes (6-10, 240) has appeared in 441 career games (163 starts) over eight-and-a-half seasons for Dallas, Sacramento, Phoenix, and Philadelphia, holding averages of 8.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks while shooting .605 from the field. He has averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting .559 from the field in 23 games (two starts) for the Mavericks this season. The 30-year-old is one of five players in the NBA to have shot .550 or better from the field in every season since 2016-17.

Prior to being acquired by Dallas in a trade from Sacramento in July 2023, Holmes averaged 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting .646 from the field and .788 from the free throw line during his first three seasons with the Kings. That stretch included the 2020-21 season, where he posted career highs of 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.7 assists while starting all 61 games in which he played. Holmes was selected 37th overall by Philadelphia in the 2015 NBA Draft.

The Wizards originally acquired Gafford from Chicago as part of a three-team trade in March 2021. He played in 218 games (145 starts) in three-plus seasons with Washington, averaging 9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting .704 from the field.

“We appreciate what Gaff brought to our organization and our community as a Wizard,” said Dawkins. “The development he made during his time here is a reflection of his work ethic and commitment, and we wish him the best as he takes the next steps in his career.”

Hornets trade P.J. Washington to Mavericks for Grant Williams, Seth Curry

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired forward P.J. Washington and two second-round picks in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for forward Grant Williams, guard Seth Curry and a top-two protected 2027 first-round pick.

Washington (6-7, 230) has appeared in 44 games (17 starts) with the Hornets this season and is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. In his 17 starts, he averaged 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

The 25-year-old Louisville, Kentucky native recorded 43 points off the bench against Utah on Jan. 27, the most points by a non-starter in a game in Hornets history and the most points by a player off the bench in the NBA this season. He is one of three players in Hornets history to record at least 43 points in a game multiple times (Glen Rice, Kemba Walker). In his debut game with the Hornets, the 6-7 forward set a franchise record for the most points scored in a debut (27) and a league record for most 3-pointers made in a debut in NBA history (7).

Through 304 career games (236 starts), Washington is averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. During his time with the Hornets, Washington recorded the fifth-most 3-pointers made (536) and fifth-most blocks (295) in franchise history.

Washington was selected with 12th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets after playing two seasons at the University of Kentucky. During his collegiate career, he was a two-time SEC Player of the Week winner after averaging 15.2 points (.522 FG%, .423 3FG%, .663 FT%), 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks and 29.3 minutes in 35 games (33 starts) his sophomore season.

Washington will wear No. 25 for the Mavericks.

Williams appeared in 47 games for the Mavericks this season (33 starts) and averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game while shooting 37.6% from behind the arc. In his first 20 games with Dallas, Williams shot 42.5% from 3-point range and later set a career-high 27 points against Sacramento on Jan. 27. He was acquired by Dallas from Boston on July 12, 2023, in a three-team sign-and-trade. Prior to joining the Mavericks, Willams averaged 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists through 288 games (58 starts) over four seasons with Boston.

Seth Curry appeared in 36 games this season (3 starts), averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game while shooting 36.3% from three. Against the Wizard’s on Nov. 15, he recorded 15 points while shooting a 6-of-6, the first time in his career he has been perfect from the field (min. 5 FGA). Curry signed with Dallas on July 14, 2023, his third stint with the team.

Mavericks, Thunder trade the right to swap a draft pick

In a trade agreement today, the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to the right to swap their own 2028 first-round pick with Oklahoma City’s own 2028 first-round pick in order to obtain a 2024 first-round pick from the Thunder.

Oklahoma City will trade the second-least favorable of the Houston Rockets 2024 draft pick (top-four protected), the Los Angeles Clippers 2024 draft pick, the Utah Jazz 2024 draft pick (top-10 protected) or Oklahoma City’s own 2024 draft pick.

Mavericks sign Brandon Williams to two-way contract, and waive Dexter Dennis

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Brandon Williams to a Two-Way contract.

And in a related move, Dallas has requested waivers on Two-Way guard Dexter Dennis.

Williams (6-1, 190) appeared in 14 games (13 starts) for the G League’s Osceola Magic at the 2023 Showcase Cup and averaged 22.4 points (.479 FG%, .376 3FG%, .833 FT%), 4.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.9 minutes per game.

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Williams began his rookie season with the G League’s Westchester Knicks, before signing a 10-day contract and a later a Two-Way deal with Portland. In 24 NBA games (16 starts) for the Trail Blazers in 2021-22, he averaged 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.7 minutes.

Williams spent the 2022-23 campaign with the G League’s College Park Skyhawks, where he teamed with fellow Mavericks Two-Way guard AJ Lawson. In 40 career regular-season G League games (36 starts) with Westchester and College Park, he has averaged 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes.

The Los Angeles native played one collegiate season at Arizona in 2018-19, where he averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists en route to being named Pac-12 All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention. Williams missed the entire 2019-20 campaign recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Williams will wear No. 00 for the Mavericks.

Dennis (6-5, 210) saw action in four games for the Mavericks as a rookie in 2023-24, averaging 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 7.5 minutes. The former Texas A&M Aggie also appeared in 13 games (all starts) for the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 35.8 minutes.