NBA Trade 2011: Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer Traded to Denver

The Dallas Mavericks made another transaction earlier this evening showing their efforts to have enough cap room available to becoming serious contenders in free agency next summer. Two possible candidates that could be on the free agent market during the summer of 2012 are Dwight Howard and Deron Williams.

The Mavericks are in the process of signing free agents to short-term contracts and wanted to open up some cap space on their roster possibly to add a big man to replace the departed Tyson Chandler. The Mavericks traded Spanish guard/forward Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a 2016 second-round draft pick.

Fernandez was acquired by the Mavericks on draft night from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade and at the time was in Spain and was open to playing in Dallas. However, with the Mavericks adding veterans Vince Carter and Lamar Odom, Fernandez was pushing for a possible buyout and the Mavericks were searching for possible takers as they did not want to pursue that route.

The Denver Nuggets were looking to add some players to their roster as they start their first post Carmelo Anthony era season. They will not have Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith who are currently playing in China while center Nene is an unrestricted free agent who is expected to have multiple suitors.

So for the Mavericks moving an unhappy Fernandez is a good move and Brewer played sparingly last season but is an above-average defender that the Mavericks may find hard to replace. However, it appears that the Mavericks are looking to make some more moves, as the start of the 2011-12 NBA season approaches.