7 Biggest Trades in Mavericks History, Ranked

The Dallas Mavericks’ championship basketball odds have regularly been short over the past two decades.

The franchise made good on its NBA odds of winning a title back in 2011, as some of the biggest trades they pulled off helped them get there.

With that said, what are the seven biggest trades in Mavericks history? Let’s find out.

7 Biggest Dallas Mavericks Trades in Team History

1. Robert “Tractor” Traylor for Dirk Nowitzki

The Mavs traded Robert “Tractor” Traylor (No. 6 overall) to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dirk Nowitzki (No. 9 overall) during the 1998 NBA Draft, and the rest is history.

Nowitzki earned Finals MVP in 2011 after averaging 26 points while helping Dallas take down LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the Miami Heat.

The 2007 NBA MVP was well-known for his patented one-legged turnaround fadeaway jumper, which helped him finish with 31,560 career points (No. 6 all-time).

2. Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris, and Second-Round Pick for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and First-Round Pick

This three-team deal between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz shocked the world on Feb. 1, 2025. The shock came from the fact Luka Dončić did not request a trade, and his versatility in scoring, passing, and rebounding the ball makes him exactly the type of player an organization would hope to build their team around.

Though Anthony Davis is six years older than Dončić, he can anchor a defence while still putting up high-scoring numbers.

However, this trade could haunt them if AD doesn’t help the Mavs win another ring, especially if Dončić finds that success in Hollywood.

3. Trae Young, First-Round Pick for Luka Dončić

The Mavs found their next superstar after dealing Trae Young (No. 5 overall) and a future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Dončić on draft night in 2018.

The five-time All-NBA First Team guard helped lead Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals, though they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Dončić poured in a career-high 73 points on 25-of-33 shooting in a Mavs 148-143 victory over the Hawks on Jan. 26, 2024.

4. Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, First-Round Pick, Two Second-Round Picks for Kyrie Irving

The Kyrie Irving era with the Brooklyn Nets had run its course, as the Mavs acquired the eight-time All-Star for pennies on the dollar in February 2023.

The Mavs missed the playoffs that season but made it to the Finals in his first full season with the squad.

Irving averaged 27 points on 49% shooting in the 2024 Western Conference finals.

5. Devin Harris, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagana Diop, and Two First-Round Picks for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine Wright

The New Jersey Nets sent Jason Kidd back to Dallas for a second stint in February 2008, as he turned out to be the floor general and culture setter the Mavs needed to get over the hump in the 2011 playoffs.

The 10-time All-Star guard routinely made the game easier for his teammates, given his playmaking chops, and never shied away from guarding the opposing team’s best player(s).

6. Pat Garrity, Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, and First-Round Pick for Steve Nash

Steve Nash blossomed into an elite point guard after being acquired from the Phoenix Suns after the draft in 1998.

He and Nowitzki helped the Mavs get to the Western Conference finals in 2003 before falling to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.

7. Erick Dampier, Eduardo Najera, and Matt Carroll for Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca

Tyson Chandler was acquired from the Charlotte Bobcats in September 2010 and was the imposing force in the middle the Mavs needed to help them make life miserable for James, who averaged just 17.8 points in the series, and the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.