After trading Luka Doncic out of the blue and proceeding to win the right to draft Cooper Flagg with just a 1.8 percent chance, it's safe to say the Dallas Mavericks are the most chaotic team in the NBA.
Now, the controversial Nico Harrison will look to upgrade Dallas' backcourt as Kyrie Irving recovers from injury. CBS Sports' Sam Quinn recently proposed a three-team deal that solves that problem for Dallas by sending Portland Trail Blazers guard and trade candidate Anfernee Simons.
Here is the deal in full:
Mavericks receive: Anfernee Simons
Lakers receive: Daniel Gafford
Trail Blazers receive: Maxi Kleber, Caleb Martin, Dalton Knecht, Dwight Powell, Lakers' unprotected 2029 (from Mavericks) and 2031 first-round picks, 2030 swap rights with the Lakers
This deal makes sense for the Mavs and Lakers
Daniel Gafford trade rumors have picked up with HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reporting that he is a trade candidate to monitor if he doesn't agree to an extension with the Mavericks. Gafford was an ideal pairing with Luka Doncic, providing him with that lob threat he loves to have at his disposal.
Harrison has doubled and tripled down on his stance of trading Doncic, saying that defense wins championships. Because of those comments, it would be somewhat surprising if Simons was the guard they went after, considering he had the worst defensive rating on the Blazers.
Then again, a lot of Harrison's actions contradict his words. And Simons would actually fit in nicely in Dallas because their frontcourt size would compensate for his defensive weaknesses, even with Gafford out of the picture. His combo guard ability would also give the Mavericks lineup flexibility, as he could take on more of a lead guard role until Irving comes back.
Blazers' return lacks a true building block
The Blazers get a lot of scraps, with Dalton Knecht being the only piece that fits their timeline. He failed to carve out a significant role with the Lakers but is still worth taking a flier on, especially given the Blazers' need for more shooting.
Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell would be on expiring deals, but Portland could be stuck with Caleb Martin through the 2027-28 season when he has a player option. He's owed roughly $10 million annually, which isn't a dealbreaker but also something they'd probably rather not have.
The draft capital is the headliner for the Blazers and gives them the incentive to play the facilitator role. However, these would all likely be late first-round picks, as the Lakers will either have Doncic leading the way or manage to have another superstar appear out of thin air.
The deal is on the right track, as Portland should prioritize young players like Knecht and draft capital for any potential Simons return. It's tempting to accept, but the only thing holding us back from a better grade is the lack of a clear-cut, high-value asset that the Blazers get in return.
Grade: B-