The Dallas Mavericks acquired veteran forward James Johnson on Monday after agreeing on a three-team deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons. The swap was initially intended to be a regular deal between the Mavs and OKC, up until Detroit joined in to shore up the contracts.
As reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Mavs will send Delon Wright to Detroit and ship Justin Jackson to OKC. The Thunder will also receive a pick in the process.
Here's the deal: The Mavericks gets James Johnson; Pistons get Delon Wright; OKC gets Ariza, Jackson and pick. https://t.co/ezb9dXnpGw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 21, 2020
It was reported initially that veteran forwards Johnson and Ariza will join the Mavs. Looks like Dallas simply wants a proven stretch four like Johnson in a bid to play enforcer for their two young All-Stars Luka Doncic in Kristaps Porzingis.
This will be Johnson's fourth NBA team this year alone, as he began 2020 with the Miami Heat before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves last February. He came over to the Thunder as part of the Ricky Rubio trade and will now suit up for the Big D.
Ariza, meanwhile holds a similar fate, as he too has been traded four times in a span of one week. It remains unclear if the Thunder will hold on to him for the 2020-21 campaign. The Mavs, meanwhile, are certainly gearing up for bigger things next season after their inspiring 2019-20 campaign.
They have yet to make a splash in the first day of free agency, only re-signing Trey Burke back to a three-year deal. Letting go of underachieving youngsters like Wright and Jackson for a veteran in Johnson certainly signals that the Mavs would like to be in a win-now mode next season.
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