The Los Angeles Lakers should be looking to bring Max Christie back as his struggles with the Mavericks mount. He was sent to Dallas in the Luka Doncic trade. The Mavs were eager to get a young 6’5 wing with 3-and-D potential. Christie shot 40 percent from 3-point range last season, but his production tailed off late in the year. The struggles have gotten worse to start this campaign. It is the perfect time for the purple and gold to try to buy low.
Christie is starting for the Mavericks, but his 36.7 field goal percentage is the worst on the team. He averages 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. The 23-year-old has made just 31.3 percent on his 3-point attempts, and Dallas has been outscored by 30 in his 158 minutes on the floor. The Mavs are building around Cooper Flagg, and Christie may simply not fit.
Christie is in the final guarantee year of his contract. He has an $8.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season, but he may just try to get out of Dallas. The Lakers should make the call. The Mavericks won’t be eager to make another trade with the purple and gold, but Christie isn’t working. LA offers a shot to get some value in return for a player who could exit in free agency.
Max Christie would be fantastic next to Luka Doncic
Christie shot 43.3 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season. He made 45.5 percent of his 165 corner threes attempted. The 6’5 wing has no issues spotting up in the corner and knocking down an open look.
Luka is arguably the best creator of open corner threes in the world. He loves to attack the paint and spray out to his shooters. Doncic draws so much defensive attention that those attempts are often available. The Lakers superstar passes it right into the shooting pocket and would quickly help Christie get his jumper back on track.
Los Angeles was better defensively with him on the floor in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. That hasn’t been the case in Dallas. The Lakers could get Christie back to being a 3-and-D wing that every team covets. The 23-year-old still has room to grow, and the purple and gold have experience with helping him improve.
Lakers have a history of developing Max Christie
Christie was the 35th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. There was no guarantee he’d become an NBA rotation player. Christie played sparingly as a rookie before cracking the rotation in year two. He was in the middle of another leap when Dallas traded for him.
The 6’5 wing’s field goal percentage, minutes, and counting stats improved every year in LA. His 0.081 win shares per 48 minutes before the stunning trade to Dallas is still the best mark of his career.
The Lakers know his game, and head coach JJ Redick had him playing arguably the best basketball of his NBA career before the trade. This reunion would be even better than the first time because Doncic is the best shot creator in the world. Getting Christie back gives the Lakers the young 3-and-D wing their roster is missing.
Max Christie gives Lakers missing piece to championship puzzle
The Lakers signed Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle to minimum contracts in the offseason because they needed 3-and-D wings. Los Angeles paid to land Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton. They clearly prioritized those players over the 3-and-D wings. It is Williams and Thybulle who are starting, with the three higher-paid options coming off the bench.
Christie offers the best of both worlds. He is comfortable being a spot-up shooter and will be engaged defensively.
He would quickly claim a starting role and let the Lakers shift Thybulle to the bench. LA needs the veteran when the games matter most. That means limiting his minutes now. Getting someone like Christie would let the Lakers do just that.
Luka Doncic enhances 3-and-D wings. Fans have seen it throughout his NBA career with guys like Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Derrick Jones Jr., and PJ Washington. Lakers fans were getting excited about Christie when he was traded. He has struggled with the Mavericks, but the 23-year-old could quickly turn it around if the Lakers can swing a trade.
LA is light on assets. They have just three second-round draft picks and one first-round swap to offer. Max Christie is struggling in Dallas. The price will only go down if he continues to have issues. The Los Angeles Lakers should buy low, while they can. Christie gives them another 3-and-D option for Doncic to maximize.
Rob Pelinka and company should make it happen. The ball is in LA’s court. Now is the time to make the call.
Add us as a preferred source on Google