New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Dereck Lively To The Lakers, Hawks Get Frontcourt Depth

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) dunks the ball past Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The offseason is here for 28 teams in the NBA. The NBA finals have arrived and there are only two teams left alive with hopes of making it to the ultimate goal of winning a championship. Heading into this offseason, the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are all searching for the next steps to take as a franchise, which is different for all three.

Atlanta is going to be a team worth watching. Most will point to a potential Trae Young trade, but that does not appear likely (for now) and Atlanta may move forward with this core of Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. If the Hawks decide to do that, they need to improve their bench in a big way this offseason. Due to the NBA's CBA and apron rules, you are going to be seeing a lot more three-team trades between teams so salaries can move around. Atlanta could try to attach themselves to a big deal and add some pieces to their bench if they opt to move forward with this starting five. The Hawks need interior defense, frontcourt depth, shooting, and maybe a backup lead guard/ball handler. This is not a great free agent class to be filling those needs, so could the Hawks look to the trade market? NBA insider Marc Stein has already reported that Atlanta could look to be facilitators this summer in the trade market due to their financial flexibility, depending on if the team brings back any of Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, or Larry Nance.

The Lakers are always going to be among the most talked about teams in the league, but that is especially going to be true now that they have Luka Doncic. A lot of the talk is going to be around the Lakers trying to get a center to put around Doncic and LeBron James, which was a clear weakness for them in their postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Will the Lakers swing big in their attempt to get a center for this team?

Dallas is also going to be an interesting team to watch. They made the most shocking trade in NBA history when they sent Doncic to the Lakers and are in a win-now window, but that got complicated when Kyrie Irving went down with an ACL tear. How will the Mavericks try to improve their roster while knowing that Irving likely won't be available to play next season? They got a huge unexpected boost when they won the NBA Draft lottery and got the right to draft Cooper Flagg, but the guard spot is still a huge question mark for Dallas.

So how about a trade where each of these teams tries to fill a need?

It should be noted that this is just a speculative and fun exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks or any other teams should do or will do. That is all.

Hawks Receive: Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington

Mavericks Receive: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Georges Niang, Shake Milton, a 2027 2nd round pick (from ATL, via CLE), and a 2029 2nd round pick (from ATL, via CLE)

Lakers Receive: Dereck Lively II and Terance Mann

Why the Hawks do this trade: They get much improved bench depth, which was a big weakness for them last season. Both Marshall and Washington are on inexpensive deals and are better for the Hawks than Niang or Mann. They keep both first round picks and young guard Kobe Bufkin. With Marshall and Washington on the bench, plus two first round picks, the Hawks could prioritize re-signing Caris LeVert and trying to make a run in the East.

Why the Hawks don't do this trade: They would rather keep Niang and Mann than bringing in Marshall and Washington. Do they want to have Washington for just one season?

Why the Lakers do this trade: Yes they lose Reaves, but they get one of the best centers in the NBA and one that has plenty of familiarity with Doncic. They keep their picks and have other expiring deals they can send out to upgrade the rest of their roster around Doncic, Lively, and James. Reaves is going to be due a massive contract extension soon and if the Lakers are building around Doncic and James, it might be best to deal him now for a young center. Mann can provide them with better depth on the bench than they currently have.

Why the Lakers don't do this deal: They don't want to move Reaves and Knecht and look to find other centers to add to their team at a lesser cost.

Why the Mavericks do this deal: While losing Lively might hurt, Reaves is just what this team needs and can lead the team while Irving is hurt. They still have Daniel Gafford and when Irving gets back, he and Reaves fit together alongside Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Gafford. Knecht is a prospect who they can see how he fits with the team and Niang is a veteran forward who can provide shooting in the regular season. With this deal, they can compete for the playoffs in the tough Western Conference

Why the Mavericks don't do this deal: Even if this deal is more fair than the Luka trade, do they want to do another deal with the Lakers? Reaves is going to be due a big contract soon, do the Mavs want to pay that? They may decide to stick with Lively and trade Gafford in a deal for another lead guard who can help them on offense this season.