The Brooklyn Nets are holding a fire sale; who could the Dallas Mavericks trade for?

The Brooklyn Nets surprised everyone on Tuesday night by trading versatile Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for five first-round choices and Bojan Bogdanovic. The Nets have stated that this offseason will be critical in determining whether they would build around Bridges or dismantle the organization and recuperate as many assets as possible.

The Nets could be holding a fire sale to recoup as many future assets as possible now that Bridges has rejoined his former Villanova colleagues in New York. If this is the case, who should the Mavericks be interested in?

Dorian Finney-Smith

Dallas fans would love to have Dorian Finney-Smith return home, and he still supports the Mavericks, attending some playoff games. Some may even see this as a JJ Barea situation, with the fan favorite returning to Dallas after leaving for the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency.

Finney-Smith has two years remaining on his deal, with the second being a player option at $14.9 million in 2024-25 and $15.3 million in 2025-26. To match the salary, the Mavericks could trade Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell, but they would almost certainly have to include a couple of second-round selections.

While he may not have the high scoring potential of some other players, he is a great on-ball defender who shot over 39% from three in his previous two full seasons in Dallas, but has shot only 33.7% since being traded to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving. Getting to play alongside Luka Doncic again would undoubtedly enhance his career.

If the Mavericks had to give up a first-round selection to get Finney-Smith, it probably isn’t worth it, especially if they can bring back Derrick Jones Jr., a similar player with better athleticism and younger. Finney-Smith is past the age of 30 and lacks the sharpshooting ability that Dallas need from a rotation player.

Cameron Johnson

Johnson was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant last season and would be an excellent match for the Dallas Mavericks, but he will be in great demand. Reports have already surfaced that teams such as the Sacramento Kings are very interested in the sharpshooter and may attempt to negotiate a trade during the draft.

Johnson, at 6’8″, has the stature to not be played off the floor defensively, and his 39.2% career 3-point shooting at high volume prevents teams from getting too far away from him. Many will remember his final few seasons with the Phoenix Suns, when he shot over 40% from deep.

The only issue is his deal, which he signed last offseason for four years and $94.5 million, with the second year paying $23.6 million. The good news is that the figure will not climb above that, and with the cap due to rise with additional TV deal money coming in, it should be lot more manageable. Dallas would most certainly have to give up Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, and at least one first-round pick in this deal, while also negotiating a separate deal for Tim Hardaway Jr.

Despite how well Johnson would fit in Dallas, it appears that they will be outbid for his services.

Denis Schröder

The Mavericks could be looking for a backup guard to relieve Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and the German point guard could be obtained cheaply. The 31-year-old is expected to make little more than $13 million next season, allowing Dallas to easily compete with Maxi Kleber and Jaden Hardy.

Moving on from Hardy, a guy the Mavericks still value, would be a setback, but Schroder would be a win-now move as a more consistent bench option. Schroder averaged 14.4 points per game this season, shooting 41.2% from three on high volume, and has previously thrived as a secondary ball-handler. Being a German in Dallas has several advantages, which may appeal to him.

This is not a likely move, but the Mavericks require additional shot-creators who can play immediately. Having only Doncic and Irving as capable rim attackers is insufficient in today’s NBA, especially after facing the Celtics, who had all five players on the court capable of putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket. Creating shots is undoubtedly the most crucial skill a player can have nowadays.

The NBA Draft begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. CST, with further movements expected throughout the night. Dallas will not make its first pick until Thursday evening, at No. 58 overall.