Two Texas teams received franchise-altering news during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday night. The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs were gifted the first and second overall picks, respectively. Neither team was likely to land such a high pick, so the lottery results were a welcome surprise.

The Mavs will likely select star Duke forward Cooper Flagg, who is considered to be a generational talent. While Dallas is happy to add a player of Flagg's caliber to the roster, the addition creates a roster imbalance for the Mavs. The team has too many talented frontcourt players at the expense of a weak backcourt.

The Spurs face the opposite problem after their lottery luck, as insiders report that the Spurs are very likely to draft Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. The Spurs already have Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and Keldon Johnson at the guard positions, so one of these players must be traded to make room for Harper.

Clearly, it should be Johnson.

The Mavs need to trade one of their frontcourt players for a starter in the backcourt next to Klay Thompson until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL tear. P.J. Washington makes the most sense as a trade asset because of his expiring contract and value across the league. The Mavs have very limited draft capital, so GM Nico Harrison should aim to conserve the remaining picks when considering trades.

Johnson is a 6-foot-5 wing drafted from Kentucky in 2019, nicknamed "big body" for his strength and physical play style. After breaking into the rotation in the 2020-21 season, the sophomore became a fan favorite in San Antonio due to his unique brand of basketball and contagious intensity.

The following season, Johnson had a breakout year, averaging 17 points and six rebounds a game while shooting a scorching 40 percent from downtown. Johnson was a promising combo guard who benefited from the defensive attention teammate Dejounte Murray received.

However, after Murray was traded to allow the Spurs to tank for Victor Wembanyama, Johnson was the primary offensive option. This was far too great of a burden for the developing Johnson, who struggled offensively and was fatigued on defense.

Johnson found his role as a sixth man for the Spurs this past season. He broke Spurs legend Manu Ginobili's record for bench points in a season while improving on his rim finishing and defense. He rarely makes poor decisions and is excellent at quickly beating closeouts forced by his teammates. Johnson is an elite athlete for his position and uses his athleticism well as a point-of-attack defender.

A doubleheader against the Spurs showed Dallas fans why they should be excited for the chance to grab Johnson. In the two-game series, he dropped 28 and 18 points on elite efficiency while also making the high-intensity defensive efforts that Johnson is known for. Perhaps these games left a good impression on Harrison, who has spoken repeatedly about the importance of hard work.

A trade centered around P.J. Washington for Keldon Johnson would improve both teams. Washington has the frame and defensive ability at the forward position that the Spurs lack, while Johnson has the catch-and-shoot and defensive ability that the Mavericks lack at the guard position.

Washington is also considered a better trade asset than Johnson. Washington is slightly better while being paid slightly less. This would force the Spurs to add draft compensation, most likely a first-round pick or two second-round picks. Gaining picks while solving an immediate on-court issue would help the Mavs immensely. The picks could be used as trade ammunition to support the roster should any further trades be required.

The Mavericks and Spurs have equal and opposite problems.

The Mavs have too many frontcourt players, while the Spurs have too many guards. Both teams must solve their problem to maximize both short-term performance and long-term development. Johnson would solve the Mavs' problem while still earning Dallas' future draft compensation, making a Johnson trade ideal for the Mavericks.