A Maverick Possibility

The Mavericks are in a limbo sort of state at the end of this year.  Even if they were to strike a puncher’s chance and knock out the LA Lakers in the first round (if indeed that turns out to be who they play), they almost certainly will not compete for and win a championship this year and in their current form not next year either.  They need to change something, get lucky with who they draft or get lucky with a key small free agent signing.  It is the change something that I am interested in here as I consider a trade that would certainly peak my interest. 

Young players who are good, relatively cheap and signed for a long period of time are, of course, valuable.  The Mavericks having traded Devon Harris, not having Jason Kidd under contract another year, and with Josh Howard’s character and play receding, obviously don’t have a whole lot of value to barter with other teams.  But I came across a trade (checking it out at realgm.com’s trade checker) that I think may make sense for both teams and give the mavericks such a player in return.  Here’s how the trade breaks down:

Dallas gets:
O.J. Mayo – 18.3 ppg; 3 years at about $14 million and a fourth qualifying year starting at $7.39 million.
Darko Milicic- 5.7 ppg; 1 year left at $7.5 million.
Hamed Haddadi- 2.8 ppg; 2 years left ???.
Marko Jaric – 2.2 ppg; 2 years left at at total of about $14.7 million

Memphis gets:
Jason Terry – 19.7 ppg; 3 years left at a total of about $32 million
Josh Howard – 17.5 ppg; 1 year left at $10.89 million, with a team option for a second year at $11.84 million. 

This seems like a trade that would boost Memphis by giving them 2 players who score around 20 ppg (and I believe Memphis is going to have a lottery pick in this years draft), while giving Dallas a young player who scores about 20 ppg and has more years under his contract.  It would also allow Memphis to dump salaries of players who don’t play very much.  I think this is one of the more realistic and prudent moves Dallas could make this summer, but this wouldn’t make them a championship contender.  However it would give them a stronger foundation on which to make moves having O.J. Mayo and Dirk Nowitzki could attract better players to sign here.  Also, the mavericks would have much more pliable salaries in the years to come.