NBA Trade Idea Sends Anfernee Simons To Mavericks, Daniel Gafford To Celtics, Klay Thompson To Nets

An NBA trade idea sending Anfernee Simons to the Dallas Mavericks, Daniel Gafford to the Boston Celtics and Klay Thompson to the Brooklyn Nets has been created.

NBA writer Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea:

Dallas Mavericks get: Anfernee Simons (from Celtics), Haywood Highsmith (from Nets)

Boston Celtics get: Daniel Gafford (from Mavericks), $27.7 million trade exception (Anfernee Simons)

Brooklyn Nets get: Klay Thompson (from Mavericks), Dwight Powell (from Mavericks), Rights to Yam Madar (No. 47 in 2020, from Celtics), 2026 second-rounder (via Celtics), 2030 Philadelphia 76ers second-rounder (via Mavericks), 2031 protected Houston Rockets second-rounder (via Celtics), 3.98 million (from Mavericks), $3.98 million (from Celtics)

The Mavericks are expected to trade Thompson and Gafford after firing Nico Harrison as general manager, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.

Simons is making $27.7 million this season in the final year of his contract, Gafford is making $14.4 million and Thompson is making $16.7 million.

“The 2026 second-rounder from Boston is the highest selection from the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks (presumably from the two-win Pelicans),” Pincus wrote. “The 2031 selection will only convey if the Rockets have a pick in the 56-60 range.

“The Mavericks acquire Simons and Highsmith by aggregating Thompson, Powell, and Gafford, finishing below their second-apron hard cap ($207.8 million). The Celtics use the preexisting Kristaps Porziņģis trade exception to acquire Gafford, triggering a first-apron hard cap ($195.9 million) and generating a $27.7 million trade exception for Simons. The Nets waive Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin before the trade, remaining slightly under the salary cap.”

For the Celtics this season, Simons is averaging 13.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Gafford is averaging 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Mavericks and Thompson is averaging 9.7 points per game while shooting 31.3% from 3.

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