NBA Trade Deadline 2019: One trade every team should make
By Daniel Lewis
The Mavericks are dealing with their 2017 first round pick’s unhappiness with his role after they drafted a truly generational talent in Luka Doncic, and while they weren’t able to find any good deals the first time they looked for a trade, perhaps they just didn’t set their eyes high enough.
The Mavericks have long wanted DeAndre Jordan, but at this point with their franchise, it’s all about finding players that will work alongside Doncic. Drummond could easily be that kind of a player for Dallas — he has tremendous size to help protect the paint, he’s a monster offensive rebounder, and he has the quickness to work the pick-and-roll with Doncic. Ish Smith becomes the latest veteran point guard to average nine points per game with Rick Carlisle, with the veteran coach finding ways to take advantage of Smith’s speed.
For the Pistons, they get to take a chance on a point guard in Smith Jr., and reunite Blake Griffin with DeAndre Jordan. If it works between those two again, they could potentially bring him back at a lower per year salary; if it doesn’t work, they’re free of that contract and have more room to bring back Stanley Johnson if they’re interested or find other free agents,