NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (R) poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver ... [+]
The Dallas Mavericks weren’t content with taking Dereck Lively II in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Dallas is acquiring Richaun Holmes and the No. 24 overall pick from the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento drafted 20-year-old 6-food-8 Marquette forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper with the twenty-fourth pick. Prosper gives the Mavericks versatility and depth at the wing position with his ability to knock down shots and play solid defense.
Dallas is using the traded player exception it created with another trade on draft night to absorb Holmes’ salary, taking him off Sacramento’s books. Holmes fell out of the Kings’ rotation last season.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Richaun Holmes #22 of the Sacramento Kings slam dunks against the ... [+]
He will earn $12.1 million this season and has a player option worth $12.8 million for the 2024-25 season. Holmes also holds a 15% trade kicker. It will increase his 2023-24 salary to $13.9 million.
Earlier in the evening, the Mavericks traded back from the No. 10 overall pick to select Lively with the twelfth pick. They acquired the No. 12 selection and a player trade exception worth $17 million in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the No. 10 pick and Davis Bertans.
After missing the playoffs last season, Dallas addresses some of its most significant areas of concern: interior and perimeter defense and rebounding.