Clint Capela to the Dallas Mavericks: 3 Possible Trade Scenarios
Hyosub Shin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are interested in acquiring veteran center Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks. However, Stein reports that the Mavericks would be more interested if the Hawks are looking to acquire all-star forward Pascal Siakam from the Raptors, which creates a greater possibility of the Hawks unloading Capela’s $20.6 million salary in a three-team trade. Even if the Mavericks prefer a three-team deal, they can still execute a trade without the Raptors’ involvement because the Mavericks have the necessary salaries and draft picks to match Capela’s contract. This creates a plethora of possible trades for the Mavericks to get Capela, so some of the more feasible scenarios are outlined below.
1. Clint Capela to Dallas, Pascal Siakam and Javale McGee to Atlanta, DeAndre Hunter and Maxi Kleber with Atlanta’s Two 2024 First-Round Picks and Dallas’ 2025 First-Round Pick to Toronto
This is a realistic template that the Mavericks could use to acquire Capela in a possible three-team deal if the Hawks trade for Siakam. The Mavericks unload Javale McGee and Maxi Kleber’s salaries in this deal and use a future first-round pick to get Capela. The Hawks then use a package centered around two first-round picks and De’Andre Hunter to get Siakam, which is what the Raptors might want back in a Siakam trade. This scenario might make the most sense because the Mavericks can unload two of their higher salaries, both of whom are big men, to make room for Capela in their frontcourt.
2. Clint Capela with Detroit’s 2024 Second-Round Pick (via Memphis or Washington) to Dallas, Javale McGee with Dallas’ 2025 Second-Round Pick and Atlanta’s 2026 Second-Round Pick (via Golden State) to Detroit, Maxi Kleber and Monte Morris with Dallas’ 2025 First-Round Pick to Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks might prefer this scenario if they can’t acquire Siakam. They’re able to get good value in return for Capela because they add frontcourt depth with Maxi Kleber and get a talented backup point guard in Monte Morris along with a first-round pick. The Mavericks are giving up a similar package to the first scenario, so there’s not really anything different from their perspective. However, Detroit gets involved because they can acquire more draft capital by trading Morris and obtaining McGee’s contract from Dallas.
3. Clint Capela to Dallas, Maxi Kleber and Javale McGee with Dallas’ 2026 First-Round Pick to Atlanta
Currently, this might be the most attainable scenario since Siakam prefers not to be traded. It’s a simple trade that uses the same package as the first two possible outcomes. Atlanta gets back two more big men to bolster their frontcourt with Capela now gone, and it creates a starting spot for their young center Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks also get a first-round pick for some draft compensation. While it’s unclear whether this package or the previous two would be enough for the Mavericks to acquire Capela, they all give the Hawks solid rotation players and draft assets that they would likely want back in a Capela trade.
