The Dallas Mavericks will be an intriguing team to follow in the 2025-26 season. While a blockbuster trade effectively changed the franchise's plans for the future last season, the selection of Cooper Flagg in the draft this year has made the Mavs look quite competitive.
The Mavs have a lot of talented pieces on their roster. Led by a gifted two-way big man in Anthony Davis, Dallas will look to its star to keep this team afloat in the absence of Kyrie Irving, who is expected to face delays in injury recovery.
Irving's unavailability certainly has an impact on Dallas' overall roster strength. Beyond being a significant contributor on offense, the star guard also brought invaluable championship experience, the lack of which could harm the Mavs down the stretch.
To address this shortcoming, Sports Illustrated's Thomas Carrelli presented a trade proposal that would help Dallas acquire a former NBA champion who could also bring scoring upside. Here's the proposed package:
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: PJ Washington, Naji Marshall
Carrelli's trade proposal is rooted in the idea that the Milwaukee Bucks are looking for ways to ship Kyle Kuzma this offseason. Given the number of trade rumors he has been involved in, there may be some validity to this belief. Regardless, such a deal would definitely have some merit for both teams involved.
For the Mavericks, acquiring Kuzma could be an intriguing proposition. Given the presence of former Lakers' personnel on the roster and the coaching staff, the 30-year-old may find himself establishing instant chemistry with the team, especially with familiar faces such as Davis.
Kuzma brings a lot of value to the table. The forward has positioned himself as a versatile scorer in possession of a multifaceted skill set. From scoring in isolation situations to being a reliable catch-and-shoot presence on the perimeter, Kuzma is capable of contributing to the offensive effort in several different ways.
While being a solid player on offense, the 30-year-old has also shown sparks of being a capable wing defender. Although his decision-making isn't the best, Kuzma showcases honest effort and hustle, ensuring that he isn't a defensive liability.
For the better part of his career, the forward has been a capable scoring option. During his early days with the Los Angeles Lakers, he appeared to be one of the most gifted offensive players in his draft class. It was only when he embraced his status as a role player, however, that he could impact winning.
After being traded to the Washington Wizards, Kuzma returned to his old ways, racking up impressive scoring numbers. While it was evident he could sustain these figures, a move to Milwaukee midway through the 2024-25 season ensured certain restrictions would be placed upon him, eventually limiting his output.
On the Bucks' roster, Kuzma recorded an average of 14.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on shooting splits of 45.5% from the field, 33.3% from three-point territory, and 66.3% from the free-throw line last season.
With the Mavericks, Kuzma would find himself coming off the bench. But in a much more flexible offensive situation, the forward may have more latitude to take over the scoring duties, thus boosting the bench's overall output.
In Irving's absence, Kuzma's versatility as a scorer could be crucial in helping the team maintain offensive integrity when the starting rotation rests. With the need for consistency across the board, acquiring Kuzma could help Dallas greatly.
Aside from the benefits enjoyed by the Mavericks, the Bucks also stand to gain a lot from this deal. The acquisitions of PJ Washington and Naji Marshall could positively transform Milwaukee's roster outlook for the upcoming season.
The Bucks are expected to be one of the teams to drop off in the 2025-26 season. After the moves they have made in the offseason, it is apparent that Milwaukee has become a weaker team.
While they will continue to address their shortcomings in their backcourt, adding Washington and Marshall would help solidify their overall bench rotation.
Washington has been a solid rotation player for the team over the past few seasons. As a reliable floor-spacer and rebounder, Washington integrated well into Dallas' lineup, providing valuable minutes on the floor.
Last season, the 27-year-old recorded an average of 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.3% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range.
Coming off the bench for Milwaukee, Washington could be crucial in playing a supporting role next to Bobby Portis in the frontcourt. As a tertiary scoring option for the team, the Bucks would also rely on his productivity to create more opportunities on offense.
Aside from Washington's addition, the Bucks would also benefit from the acquisition of Naji Marshall. Although he is a small forward, given Milwaukee's shortcomings in the backcourt, Marshall's flexibility as a player would allow him to address these concerns to some extent, while also filling in as a wing defender.
Marshall has proven himself to be an extremely capable two-way player. Apart from his solid defensive ability, he possesses a reliable offensive game, which allows him to create scoring chances for himself.
The Mavs forward recorded an average of 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the 2024-25 campaign. When factoring in his shooting splits of 50.8% from the field, he could prove to be a valuable addition to bolster Milwaukee's bench scoring alongside Washington and Portis.
These additions may not transform the Bucks into a playoff team, but they would help them become more competitive. Given the weakened status of the East in the upcoming season, Milwaukee could make the most of this situation to even contend for a spot in the Play-In tournament.
The Mavericks Do Not Do This Deal
While acquiring Kuzma could be viewed as a positive investment, parting ways with both Washington and Marshall may simply be asking too much.
Both players have become integral to Dallas' plans for the future, with Washington becoming an increasingly valuable presence in the team's frontcourt rotation.
Although their offensive production is expected to take a hit in the upcoming season, having reliable roster elements will be crucial once Irving returns to the lineup. In this regard, investing in a player like Kuzma, who carries some risk given his recent form, is not advisable.
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