The Dallas Mavericks begin the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Sunday on the road against the LA Clippers, and fans can’t wait to see a rematch between Dallas and LA after the Mavs lost to them in the first round of the playoffs in 2020 and 2021.

The entire city is buzzing in preparation for this great series, and both teams are quickly trying to get healthy ahead of this highly-anticipated matchup.

Both teams have been battling injuries, and the Mavs may be catching the Clippers at the perfect time due to Kawhi Leonard’s foggy availability.

Grade the Trade: Mavericks land Warriors sharpshooter in shocking proposal

There is uncertainty that he will be available for game one, and to make matters even better, Dereck Lively II went through a full practice on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Lively II suffered a knee sprain at the end of March, and at this rate, he should be ready to play on Sunday.

With the entire NBA world buzzing about the 2024 NBA Playoffs, some teams’ offseasons have already begun. Teams who didn’t make the Play-In Tournament or lost in the Play-In Tournament (if they were a nine or 10 seed) have already gone home, and their focus has already shifted to the offseason and how they can build the best roster possible for next year.

One of those teams is the Golden State Warriors, and their big three of Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green may not be intact next season. The Warriors lost to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday night, and it might be time for some big changes in The Bay so they can get back to their championship-winning ways.

In this proposal, the Dallas Mavericks make a blockbuster trade with the Golden State Warriors for one of their star shooters.

Here we grade this blockbuster trade for both teams and explain the advantages and disadvantages for both teams involved.

Mavericks land Klay Thompson from Warriors in mock blockbuster

In this mock blockbuster, the Dallas Mavericks land one of the greatest shooters of this era from the Golden State Warriors for a relatively cheap price.

It was reported that Klay Thompson could test the free agency market, and in this scenario, the Warriors get some value for him from Dallas. The Mavs have already been rumored as a potential suitor, and pairing him next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could work wonders for the back stretch of his career.

With the cap space that Dallas currently has, the only way to land him seems to be through a sign and trade, and this mock trade improves the Mavs’ 3-point shooting tremendously.

A three-year, $60 million contract would be a bargain for Thompson, and this may be the range of contract that he signs this offseason. He clearly isn’t the same player he once was, and it may be in both sides’ best interest to get a fresh start.

In the process of losing Thompson, the Warriors replace him with another shooter in Tim Hardaway Jr. and a young spark plug off the bench in Jaden Hardy. Both players are on expiring contracts, and the Warriors can let them both walk if they don’t fit or play well.

The above trade would be the lower end of a deal for Thompson, but the Mavs could potentially throw in some draft capital or even consider interchanging Maxi Kleber or Josh Green into the deal.

Next we grade the proposed trade and discuss why each team would or wouldn’t make this deal.

Grading the trade for the Golden State Warriors

In this mock blockbuster trade, the Golden State Warriors would be turning the page completely on the “Splash Brothers” era. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry helped start a dynasty that won multiple rings, but all good things must come to an end.

Since Thompson is an unrestricted free agent, he could walk for nothing if he wanted to and the Warriors would get no value for him. In this scenario, the Warriors help get Thompson to one of the best teams in the NBA who wouldn’t be able to sign him otherwise.

In exchange for Thompson, the Warriors replace his shooting with Tim Hardaway Jr.’s.

Hardaway Jr. has gone through a bad shooting slump as of late, but he could just need a change of scenery. He was having a great season at the beginning and was in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, but nothing has gone his way as of late.

This season for Dallas, Hardaway Jr. averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from downtown. Ever since the trade deadline, something has been off with him, and Dallas moving on from him may be the best idea.

The Warriors also land young talent in this deal with Hardy, and his potential and scoring ability off the bench could intrigue the Warriors.

Without landing draft capital, the Warriors get a B- for this deal.

Potential starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis

Golden State Warriors

No draft capital is not ideal, but Tim Hardaway Jr. may just need a change of scenery | Jaden Hardy has the potential to be a great piece off the bench

Grading the trade for the Dallas Mavericks

Heading into the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks have one of the best defenses in the NBA, and Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are playing great together.

The Mavs have all the tools to make a deep playoff run this year, but if they don’t make the Western Conference Finals or NBA Finals this year, they’ll be favorites to do so next season. Pretty much everyone on the squad outside of Derrick Jones Jr. will be under contract and their core will remain intact.

Adding Klay Thompson to their already stacked squad while trading away Tim Hardaway Jr. would be huge for Dallas as acquiring Thompson would be a big upgrade from Hardaway Jr. Dallas has been shopping Hardaway Jr. for some time now and this trade would finally allow them to get rid of him.

One part of the trade that doesn’t seem bad but could end up coming back to bite them in the end is trading Jaden Hardy. Hardy hasn’t looked great recently, but his potential and youth are intriguing. Teams have called about Hardy in the past and he may have more trade value than Mavs fans think.

Dallas clearly needs more shooting, and they would be adding one of the best shooters of all time in this move and he could start or come off the bench.

The Mavs get an A- for this trade as they finally get rid of Hardaway Jr. while adding a generational talent as a shooter in Thompson. Paying Thompson $20 million annually at his age and considering his injury history could be risky, but it could end up being worth it.

Potential starting lineup: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks heading into the 2024 NBA Playoffs this weekend, stay tuned