An NBA insider is reporting that the Dallas Mavericks’ efforts to acquire Clint Capela from the Atlanta Hawks were negated when the team refused to include either Josh Green or Jaden Hardy in a proposed deal.
On “The Hoop Collective” podcast, Tim MacMahon indicated (at the 45:50 mark) that the Hawks’ efforts to pry away Green or Hardy led to the chill in trade talks.
“The Mavericks asked for Clint Capela,” MacMahon said. “My understanding is the Hawks asked for the Mavericks to throw in Josh Green or Jaden Hardy, which that’s a no-go. Those are young players that the Mavericks really like.”
A player the Hawks have been seeking to deal, John Collins, was offered to the Mavericks, who instead asked about the possibility of acquiring Capela.
One other player discussed in trade talks was Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter, who finished his fourth NBA season with the Hawks this season. However, the sticking point in that situation was the four-year, $95 million contract extension that Hunter signed last October.
Green and Hardy have put up relatively modest numbers during their times in the NBA. Yet, it’s clear that the Mavericks see a great deal of potential in the duo.
In his three seasons with the Mavericks, the 6-foot-6 Green has averaged 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game after he was the 18th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. He came off the bench for virtually all of his first two years as a shooting guard but started 21 contests this past season.
Hardy was acquired by the Mavericks on draft night last year after the Sacramento Kings had selected him with the 37th overall pick. In his 48 games with the Mavericks this past season, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Despite the failure to acquire Capela, the Mavericks were able to add talent through Thursday night’s draft by acquiring a pair of first-round selections.
Thanks to trades with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings, the Mavericks were able to nab Duke University center Dereck Lively II and Marquette University forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
The Mavericks’ efforts to make a deep playoff run this season ended up resulting in disaster when the team failed to even compete in the playoffs. How well the new and remaining talent develop next season is a question that will have to wait before being answered.
