Having already made a bold move of offloading Luka Doncic from the squad, the Dallas Mavericks have made it clear that they will not refrain from making more such decisions if it contributes to the overall development of the squad. The franchise took the leap of faith on Caleb Martin by bringing him from the Philadelphia 76ers, but the team isn't done yet. According to the NBA insider, the Mavs recently tried to sign Ben Simmons before he eventually switched to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Dallas Mavericks Wanted to Sign Ben Simmons
Stein reported on The Stein Line that Dallas showed interest in Simmons during the buyout market. “League sources say that Dallas had interest in joining the buyout market bidding for Ben Simmons, who swiftly joined the LA Clippers after negotiating his release from the Brooklyn Nets and held appeal to the Dallas Mavericks as a small ball center,” Stein wrote.
A three-time All-Star, Ben Simmons would have provided the Mavericks more solidarity with his playmaking and defensive versatility. It could have been a huge "W" for the Mavs to bring him but it wasn't to be.
However, financial constraints played a role in the Dallas Mavericks' inability to secure Simmons. Stein noted, “The Mavericks, though, sit less than $200,000 away from the NBA's first luxury-tax apron … even after Davis waived his trade kicker upon learning that the Lakers were dealing him to Dallas for Doncic.”
Though they missed out on acquiring the services of Ben Simmons, the Mavericks are still active in the buyout market. They are scouting for the right talent and but won't be able to make a move for a bit as the trade deadline has passed. It would be interesting to see whether their seeking will find the right match.