Jazz Linked with Mavs in Draft Trade Rumor

DALLAS — There is a continued expectation ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday for the Dallas Mavericks to use the 10th pick in a trade of some sort. Among the various possibilities include a trade down while getting compensated to do so in order to add talent around Luka Doncic and impending free agent Kyrie Irving.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the Utah Jazz are exploring methods to move their two later first-round picks to gain an additional selection in the lottery range. Among possible scenarios could involve taking on Davis Bertans' contract from the Mavs for the 10th pick using the 16th and 28th picks.

"Sources told ESPN the Jazz are exploring many different options on draft night, including packaging their first two picks to move up into the lottery (possibly to Nos. 5, 6 or. 7), or using their two latter first-rounders and taking on a contract from a team such as Dallas for Davis Bertans, for example, a move that could only be consummated July 1," Givony wrote.

During a recent appearance on the 'Inside The Mavs' podcast, Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports predicted Dallas will move the pick and highlighted the Jazz among potential trade partners to facilitate a trade down.

"Whether it is something like that Atlanta thing or something with Utah, what have you, I would take it to the bank that Dallas is going to move this selection," Fischer said.

The Jazz could take advantage of having a very clean cap sheet with no contracts paying out a salary of $18 million or more in 2023-24. While working out a new contract with Jordan Clarkson would be required if he declines his $14.3 million player option to enter free agency, there is a lot of room for Utah to work with.

The Jazz could theoretically absorb bad salary in order to further entice a team like the Mavs to trade down to move up for an intriguing prospect like Kobe Bufkin, who they reportedly have an interest in selecting. The problem for Utah's outlook to select Bufkin is that after previously potentially being available using the 16th pick, he has risen up draft boards and may require a trade up unless the 9th pick was used on him.

The Mavs aren't expected to trade down just to dump a contract, though, which makes any possible framework with the Jazz challenging to an extent. The general ideal scenario would be to add veteran talent that bolsters defensive capabilities in the process and if it optimizes their salary cap spending obligations for the short-term, then it'd be an added bonus. Can Utah accomplish this?

In terms of a potential trade framework, it seems as though the Mavs want to include Bertans' $17.0 million salary in discussions with teams. Given the team's desire to reconfigure the center position, they could save around $4.8 million by taking Kelly Olynyk's expiring contract in such a trade.

Olynyk wouldn't resolve the Mavs' defensive woes, he is a skilled big man that fits the stretch-five mold. Is that a route that Dallas is willing to go? For a team with very specific needs and limited methods to address them, they must be calculated. Regardless, Olynyk is a helpful stretch-five coming off a respectable campaign, averaging 12.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. He shot 49.9 percent from the floor and 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Perhaps another way the Jazz could add a layer of value would be to to absorb an additional, smaller contract like JaVale McGee's $5.7 million salary. Utah created a $6.7 million TPE by trading Bojan Bogdanovic to the Detroit Pistons. If the Mavs facilitated a trade package including Bertans and McGee as the contracts involved while taking back Olynyk, they would clear $10.5 million for 2023-24.

The Jazz are reportedly open to trading Collin Sexton, but with the Mavs' plan being to build around Doncic and Irving, along with having Jaden Hardy on the bench, that doesn't appear to be the ideal route to take. With Sexton being a smaller guard, there would be a lot of money tied up to backcourt players for a team that sorely needs to add positional size on the wing and at center.

If the Mavs are intent on improving defensively using the 10th pick, navigating alternative options is likely the best option. There is a pressing need to improve on defense and rebounding given the team executed so poorly in those areas last season. There isn't a straightforward pathway to do so in a trade with Utah.

Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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