Mavericks, Grizzlies trade grades after Santi Aldama deal

As mentioned in this piece, the Grizzlies have over 15 guaranteed standard contracts when factoring in the Isaiah Stewart trade and the Boozer/Lopez rookie contracts. Suffice to say, the Memphis front office is in a bit of a pickle as they sort out the roster while they’re in the talent accumulation phase of their rebuild.

Aldama made sense as a trade piece since he has two more years left on his deal (worth around $34 million) and his contract for the 2027-28 campaign is a team option. That means that, in case things go south, teams can simply cut him so as to not have him take up space on their cap sheet.

This made Aldama an appealing trade target for teams in need of frontcourt help. And the Mavericks valued Aldama’s offensive versatility and his fit in the frontcourt that they parted ways with a first-round pick and two second-round picks to bring him in.

Considering how the Grizzlies have too many players to fill both frontcourt spots, getting a deal like this must be very sweet. Sure, the first-round pick they acquired is a top-20 protected selection from the Golden State Warriors. There’s a chance that this doesn’t convey and instead turns into a second-round pick since the Warriors are in decline.

Nevertheless, getting three second-round picks for Aldama, someone who could get lost in the shuffle amid Memphis’ rebuild, is a nice haul regardless. Memphis didn’t even need to take on any long-term salary in return, which is an added bonus. Johnson, who hasn’t been very good in his two seasons in the league thus far, may just end up being a casualty of Memphis’ roster crunch.

With the Grizzlies embracing a full-scale rebuild, this is a solid enough return for a productive piece who doesn’t fit their timeline. And if that Warriors pick somehow ends up at #21 overall, then this trade becomes even better for Memphis.

Grade: B+

Mavericks stock up on depth to begin Masai Ujiri era

The Mavericks are in a healing phase, as the franchise is still recovering from the disastrous trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick in 2029. But the Mavs are looking to return to contention swiftly with the hope that Cooper Flagg breaks out big time in Year 2.

Aldama gives the Mavericks a new dimension in their frontcourt. He is a good ballhandler for his size, and he put up 14/7/3 last season on 48/45/67 shooting splits. The Mavs can help cover for any struggles he may have on the defensive end by surrounding him with plus defenders in the frontcourt.

However, was this truly the best use of resources for the Mavs? They still have two good centers under contract in Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Their power forward rotation already consists of PJ Washington, and recent lottery pick Morez Johnson Jr. could get plenty of minutes under college head coach Dusty May. Flagg, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin can all slide up a position.

The Mavs felt as though they needed to use the trade exception they generated thanks to the trade in which they sent Davis to the Washington Wizards. But when the team already doesn’t have too many tradeable draft picks to begin with, going after Aldama, someone who doesn’t necessarily address an area of need, may not have been the best use of resources.

Grade: C