Last Week: Lost to LA Clippers 109-99, Beat LA Clippers 105-89, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 125-119
This Week: 3/21 at Portland Trail Blazers, 3/24 at Minnesota Timberwolves, 3/26 vs. Indiana Pacers, 3/27 at New Orleans Pelicans
James Johnson
As the Dallas Mavericks are rounding into the team they were projected to be before the season started, they also enter the market as buyers attempting to fortify their playoff rotation. James Johnson is a solid player but is also the owner of a $15.7 million expiring contract. If the Mavericks look to add a player of consequence at the deadline, the team they are dealing with will likely enjoy the salary cap relief that comes with that amount of money coming off the books in a few short months.
Johnson was brought in to add some toughness to this roster and that is currently about all he is providing. He is playing the fwest minutes per game (17.4) since his rookie season. His 3-point efficiency has plummeted (36.3 percent last season to 25.0 percent this year). If he is spun somewhere for a useful player, the receiving team will likely be treating him as a line item instead of a player.
This is the cold reality of trade season. Not everyone is brought in for their on-court impact. Money has been the biggest driving factor of the season (look no further than the All-Star Game) and watching teams prioritize money at the deadline may end up being a reality more so than ever.