Dallas, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks made their offseason moves official on July 6, acquiring forward Santi Aldama from the Memphis Grizzlies and guard Marcus Sasser from the Detroit Pistons once the NBA moratorium lifted. ESPN first reported the Aldama trade, which sends AJ Johnson, a 2030 first-round pick via Golden State, and two future second-round picks to Memphis.
Aldama, a 7-foot forward, averaged career highs of 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season while connecting on 35 percent from three-point range. The 25-year-old played his entire NBA career in Memphis, increasing his scoring average in each of his five seasons with the club. Dallas also received the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic, a 2023 Grizzlies second-round pick who competes in EuroLeague and the Turkish Basketball Super League.
Sasser heads to Dallas from Detroit, where the former first-round pick averaged 5.2 points and 2.0 assists in 38 games last season. The guard shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc but saw his playing time become increasingly limited in a crowded Pistons backcourt. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas lined up both deals in advance, clinching the Sasser trade using the same Golden State 2030 first-rounder.
