Mavericks reportedly land Santi Aldama in deal with Grizzlies for AJ Johnson
The Dallas Mavericks landed a veteran big man on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mavericks struck a deal to acquire Santi Aldama in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. In return, the Mavericks will send AJ Johnson, a 2030 first-round pick and two future second-round picks to Memphis. Dallas also acquired the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic in the deal.
Aldama averaged 14 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season, his fifth in the league after he was selected with the No. 30 overall pick in 2021. Aldama was limited to just 43 games, however, and underwent season-ending knee surgery in March. He is expected to be ready for the start of the season this fall.
Aldama is entering the second year of a three-year, $52.5 million deal, which includes a team option for the final season.
Johnson landed in Dallas ahead of the trade deadline last season. He averaged 3.9 points and one rebound off the bench in 23 games with the Mavericks. Biberovic has spent the last eight seasons playing professionally in Europe for Fenerbahçe, though the Grizzlies selected him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He has yet to make his NBA debut.
Aldama will now join a Mavericks team in the middle of a full reset. The franchise hired head coach Dusty May to take over right before the NBA Draft last month, shortly after hiring new president Masai Ujiri and new general manager Mike Schmitz. Fresh off leading Michigan to a national championship before making the jump to the pros, May and the Mavericks then selected former Michigan star Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.
Aldama and Johnson will now get to team up with reigning Rookie of the Year and veteran Kyrie Irving next season in Dallas as the franchise attempts to completely close the door on the post-Luka Dončić trade era. The Mavericks went just 26-56 last season, their worst record in nearly a decade, and missed the playoffs. Aldama should be able to provide a solid presence for the Mavericks inside.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are also in the midst of a reset. The organization dealt longtime star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday. They went 25-57 last season and missed the playoffs, too.
