Mavericks Make Draft Night Trades for Defense and Depth

Gafford and Dinwiddie Added, Porzingis Traded

The Dallas Mavericks made a flurry of trades on draft night, acquiring Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards and Spencer Dinwiddie from the Brooklyn Nets. In exchange, the Mavericks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards and a second-round pick to the Nets.

Gafford Provides Interior Defense

Gafford is a young center who will provide the Mavericks with much-needed help on the defensive end. The Mavericks allowed the fifth-most points in the paint last season, and Gafford's presence should help to shore up that area.

Dinwiddie Adds Scoring and Playmaking

Dinwiddie is a veteran guard who can score and create for others. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.8 assists per game last season for the Nets. He should provide the Mavericks with a much-needed scoring boost and help to take some of the pressure off of Luka Dončić.

Mavs Trade Wallace for Lively

In addition to the trades for Gafford and Dinwiddie, the Mavericks also traded Cason Wallace to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Dereck Lively II. Wallace was the 11th overall pick in the draft, while Lively was the fourth overall pick.

What the Trades Mean for the Mavs

The Mavericks' trades on draft night were all about improving their team's defense and depth. Gafford and Lively should help to shore up the team's interior defense, while Dinwiddie should provide a scoring boost and help to take some of the pressure off of Dončić. The Mavericks are hoping that these trades will help them to contend for a championship in the upcoming season.