Mavs Willing to Trade 2027 First-Round Pick; Wizards Want More for Kyle Kuzma Deal?
Although the Dallas Mavericks are seeking significant frontcourt upgrades ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, they don't have much draft capital at their disposal to make potential deals easier to execute.
Dallas has one first-round pick (2027) and two second-round picks (2025, 2028) it can use in trades, and although it might be wise to save the first-rounder for the offseason when there will be more flexibility, trading that first-rounder now might not be out of the question.
On Tuesday, Yahoo! Sports' Jake Fischer reported that the Mavs are willing to move their coveted 2027 first-round pick for the "right" deal. The Mavs have been linked to several versatile forwards over the last week, including Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzman, Charlotte Hornets' P.J. Washington, and Golden State Warriors' Andrew Wiggins.
"The Mavericks are known to be including either Williams or Tim Hardaway Jr. as the larger-salary player with which Dallas is exploring several frontcourt options with shooting ability, plus some defensive chops, sources said. And the Mavs are willing to spend their 2027 first-round pick for the right option," Fischer wrote.
Mavs Pursuing P.J. Washington & Kyle Kuzma? 3-Way Trade with Hornets & Wizards That Works
When it comes to Kuzma specifically, the Mavs, despite viewing him as a great fit alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, might not have the trade ammo to pull off a deal before the deadline.
"It seems unlikely, at this juncture, that Dallas — or Sacramento, for that matter — will be able to find a deal that satisfies Washington’s asking price of multiple first-round picks for Kyle Kuzma," Fischer wrote. "Dallas could search for avenues to manufacture another first-round selection from another team, but the Wizards appear quite comfortable moving forward with Kuzma on their roster, signed to three more seasons after this."
Kuzma, Washington Remain Mavs ‘Preferred’ Trade Targets; Wiggins Interest ‘Overstated’
If the Mavs were willing to take on Wiggins' long-term contract, would the Warriors throw in a first-round pick to get a deal done? If so, that could create a situation where the Mavs obtain enough draft capital to acquire Kuzma while also adding another big wing in Wiggins who could be helpful down the stretch of this season.
As always, stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com as we learn more about the Mavs' trade deadline intentions over the next two days.