3. Dallas Mavericks
If we’re learning anything about the Mavericks, it’s that Luka Doncic can’t do it alone and any others stepping up consistently is tough to predict. A proven around the basket big man, who’s efficient offensively and can dictate things around the rim on the defensive end might be a nice fit. Does that sound like anyone?
The Mavericks haven’t been afraid to court stars in the past, it’s just that they’ve usually fallen short. Getting Gobert isn’t about strictly courting him, of course. It’s mostly about making the Jazz an offer they’d entertain to offload him, and naturally improve their team chemistry.
Mavericks Get: C Rudy Gobert
Jazz Get: G/F Tim Hardaway Jr., F/C Dwight Powell, SF Sterling Brown, a future first-round pick
It will be an overriding refrain on this list, but including Hardaway and his big contract here goes a long way to Dallas being able to match Gobert’s salary in a trade. Powell could find a more prominent role in Utah, and while he’s not on Gobert’s level defensively (few are) he has been at least a 1.9 Defensive Win Shares player in three of the last five seasons–with the last two not-so normal seasons before this one as the exceptions. Brown would just be an extra depth piece for the Jazz, but he did make more than 42 percent of his 3-pointers for the Rockets in 2020-21.
A deal sending Reggie Bullock, Davis Bertans and Powell to Utah for Gobert would also work, but it’s hard to see the Jazz liking that all that much. Bertans, Powell, Bullock and Brown would also work, but that feels like a lot of depth to surrender for Dallas when they wouldn’t necessarily have to.