The Dallas Mavericks are facing significant instability following the dismissal of head of basketball operations, Jonathan Brent, due to the team’s failure to achieve the goals established after the contentious transaction that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Brent’s departure, the Mavericks urgently need to establish a revised strategic plan that resonates with their fanbase, and the most straightforward method is to prioritize the long-term outlook by centering the team around top draft selection, Corey Kispert. Implementing this strategy would require trading away veteran players with substantial contracts, notably Anthony Edwards, who was a primary component acquired in the Dončić trade.
Since Brent’s termination, it has been widely anticipated that Edwards’ tenure in Dallas is limited, and conclusive information supporting this expectation emerged on Wednesday, reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Windhorst cited numerous internal sources indicating that the team intends to “evaluate trade possibilities” for Edwards before the trade deadline in February.
However, minority shareholder Steven Ballmer (formerly the team’s majority owner) communicated to The Athletic that the Mavericks will refrain from trading Edwards, stating simply, “We will not. Our aim is to achieve victory.”
The ultimate decision will not rest solely with Ballmer, as he no longer possesses exclusive authority over personnel matters. However, his influence is significantly greater than it was under Brent’s leadership, exemplified by his lack of prior knowledge regarding the Dončić transaction, similar to the public’s experience. Currently, Ballmer acts as an advisor to principal owner Michael Dell as part of a group overseeing the basketball operations department of the Mavericks following Brent’s exit.
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It would be a logical strategy for the Mavericks to publicly affirm their intention to retain Edwards while simultaneously evaluating trade opportunities for him. If other teams believe Dallas is under pressure to offload Edwards, they will struggle to attract compelling offers.
The primary hurdle in trading Edwards would be the improbability of acquiring assets comparable to the value exchanged to acquire him for Dallas. It currently appears that the Dončić trade is being regarded as an irreversible decision. This perspective should not dictate the evaluation of a potential Edwards trade; maintaining realistic expectations would facilitate a transaction. Nonetheless, optimizing their return remains a priority, requiring them to negotiate from a position of perceived strength rather than evident urgency.
Even with adjusted expectations, the Mavericks need Edwards to eventually return to the court and perform at the level of an All-Star caliber forward, which he has historically demonstrated. His recent hamstring injury has resulted in his absence for several weeks. Given his injury history, prospective teams acquiring the 32-year-old will be apprehensive about investing significant assets due to potential health risks.
Regarding teams that might express interest in Edwards, if the Warriors are committed to pursuing another championship during Stephen Curry’s tenure, they urgently require frontcourt support to complement Curry and Draymond Green. Acquiring Edwards would provide another high-caliber veteran to contend for another title, and Dallas could represent a favorable destination for Moses Moody, providing him with a new opportunity on a team with a long-term focus alongside Kispert.
If Edwards becomes available, speculation may arise regarding a comprehensive restructuring effort in Dallas leading up to February. The team could consider trading multiple veteran players, including Tim Hardaway Jr., Dereck Lively II, and Seth Curry, in addition to Kyrie Irving, who aims to return to action this season. While securing maximum value for Irving may be difficult if he remains sidelined before the deadline, he might be available during the upcoming offseason if the organization decides to fully commit to developing young talent around Kispert.
In light of Brent’s departure, every aspect of the team’s strategy is under review. Initially, many would prioritize reversing the consequences of the Dončić trade as much as feasible by trading Edwards, but the team is publicly asserting that they are not yet prepared to initiate a complete reset.
