On Friday afternoon, the Dallas Mavericks cut Klay Thompson as he made his way to South Beach to join the Miami Heat. While the now geriatric Splash Brother will certainly add to his three-point total, this is the type of move that the late summertime brings. It's not a bad signing, nor is it a great one.
It simply is.
The Mavericks are in the midst of their rebuild around Cooper Flagg after trading away Luka Dončić. Thompson is one of the last remaining veterans who was brought in to play alongside the latter as Kyrie Irving is still working his way back from a series of knee injuries and Naji Marshall just extended.
Ironically, Max Christie might have been the perfect fit alongside Dončić, despite being part of the deal that sent the superstar to the LA Lakers. For all of the same reasons he would've been great next to Luka, Christie may just be the ideal trade target for an Indiana Pacers team that wants to add more size and shooting next to Tyrese Haliburton.
It's still not certain if the Mavs will be willing to trade the player they ostensibly moved an MVP candidate for, but Christie is entering the last year of his deal before a player option he will surely decline as part of a four year/32 million dollar deal he signed after being drafted in the second round.
Max is still only 23, despite having four years of NBA experience. For that reason alone, the Mavs may balk at any offer. However, the cap situation of Dallas' roster leaves a top-of-the-line extension harder to manage.
If you match Christie's earning potential to that of a player like Ayo Dosumnu, the nearly 20 million dollar a year raise that Max will require would likely put a snag in any free agency plans the Mavericks would have two summers from now.
This is not an issue that the Pacers are exempt from, but Indiana will never be a free agency threat. The Mavericks with Flagg are certainly planning on being exactly that.
With three first-round picks (not all of them will be required to get Christie) and Jarace Walker's expiring at exactly the number to match Max's deal, the Pacers may finally have found a target that makes sense for them.
The on-court fit is beautiful
Do you, dear reader, like Aaron Nesmith? Imagine having a second Nesmith who is a better playmaker and better perimeter defender.
Have you, dear reader, ever thought about what a fully realized Ben Sheppard would look like? Imagine an even better version of that who can be had for only one of those remaining first-round picks.
Is a player like Christie worth a first-rounder? That remains to be seen. The answer is likely yes, but critics can't be blamed for their hesitance. Peyton Watson just went for a singular first, and he's shown less in the league while also being a more interesting archetype.
If there's one thing that's clear from Cleveland's move, it's that aggression can reshape expectations for a whole season. Identity hides within individuality. What can you do that other teams can't? The Cavs created a way to find that specialty.
Indiana is good, but they still don't have that. Maybe adding Christie moves them to embrace their normalcy. They're the best at being ordinary.
Christie is anything but ordinary. He is regular, but simultaneously excellent.
Just like the Pacers.
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