NBA Trade Deadline 2013: Mavericks, like rival Rockets and Grizzlies, make small move

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Dallas didn't dramatically shake up its roster on Thursday's deadline, but was one of three Southwest Division teams to make a deal.

By Evan Dunlap Feb 22, 2013, 7:00am CST

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The Dallas Mavericks didn't make a splashy deal before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, despite owner Mark Cuban's famous assurances that the "Bank of Cuban is open." Instead of making a big move, Dallas swapped swingmen with the Atlanta Hawks, acquiring Anthony Morrow for Dahntay Jones. Both players have expiring contracts, so the deal doesn't alter Dallas' long-term financial outlook.

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Morrow's value is as a three-point shooter, as his 42.5 percent mark on threes is ninth in NBA history. But he played sparingly for Atlanta before joining the Mavs, averaging just 12.5 minutes per game. Perhaps a result of his reduced role, Morrow is shooting only 42.3 percent from the field and 39.5 percent on three-pointers in 2012-13.

Acquiring Morrow does nothing to shift the balance of power in the Southwest Division, but the good news for Dallas is that none of its rivals made a splash, either. The Houston Rockets acquired Thomas Robinson, the no. 5 overall pick in the 2012 draft, but they made that deal with an eye toward the future. Though the departures of Marcus Morris and Patrick Patterson will open playing time for Robinson, it's more likely that Houston will simply play small with Chandler Parsons at power forward.

The Memphis Grizzlies made an even smaller deal, acquiring little-used backup center Dexter Pittman from the Miami Heat in exchange for the draft rights to Ricky Sanchez. Pittman played just four games for Miami before joining the Grizzlies, who acquired the former Longhorn to help meet the league-mandated roster minimum of 13 players.

The Mavs trail the Rockets by 4.5 games for the West's final playoff spot and will have to leapfrog the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers to catch them. Thursday's trades in the Southwest Division don't bring Dallas any closer to the postseason, but they also don't compromise the Mavs' long-term salary-cap picture.