The Dallas Mavericks traded Josh Richardson to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Big Man Moses Brown. The move saves the Texans money and might now sign a big name in free agency.
Richardson exercised his $11.6 million player option and was promptly traded to Boston. In return, Moses Brown, who ended up in Oklahoma City in the course of the Walker-Horford trade, comes to Texas.
The Celtics can add the shooting guard to their trade exception, which they created through the sign-and-trade deal for Gordon Hayward (Charlotte Hornets) last November. Brown, who showed good approaches with the Thunder last season (8.6 points, 8.9 rebounds), is still under contract until 2024.
His four-year contract until 2024 for 6.8 million is only partially guaranteed. He concedes 1.7m in 21/22, 1.85m in 22/23 plus a team option of 2.0m in 23/24. Brown played 30 games for the Mavs’ G-League team, the Texas Legends, in the 2019-20 season.
It was the second deal for the Celtics since Friday, having previously traded Tristan Thompson to Sacramento in a three-team trade in exchange for Atlanta guard Kris Dunn, center Bruno Fernando and a second-round pick for 2023.
Dallas might have around $33 million in cap space by August 2, the start of free agency, signing a big name. The main trade is Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors, the 35-year-old is a free agent and might be the required point guard for Dallas.
Richardson joined the Mavericks via trade from Philadelphia on draft day 2020, but never lived up to expectations. The 27-year-old averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 59 games and had shot rates of 42.7 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from the three-point line.
