Suggested by Zach Lowe, would Portland and Dallas entertain a Josh McRoberts and Moe Harkless swap?

The NBA Trade Deadline is this Thursday, February 8th.

For the Dallas Mavericks, the rumors have been quiet outside of a tweet from Marc Stein saying the team would entertain a Wesley Matthews trade if they received a first in return.

On Monday, ESPN’s Zach Lowe threw out a speculative trade for the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers in his latest trade deadline piece.

Portland

The Blazers are currently barely over the tax and could look to get under that number considering their position in the standings. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum shouldn’t be heading elsewhere before Thursday, so trying to shed one of their longer term deals or re-shuffling the deck could be something they entertain.

Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard and Moe Harkless are all on the books for double-digit millions over the next two years after this one.

Paying a second round pick to shed the contract of Harkless would not only take them underneath the tax this season, but clear up over $22 million over the next two seasons.

McRoberts would be an expiring contract they would probably explore buying out.

Dallas

McRoberts obviously isn’t part of the future, so would Dallas take on a second round pick for the long-term contract of Moe Harkless?

Harkless is making $10.1 million this season. Over the next two years, Harkless is due $10.5 million and $11.2 million with no options on the last year.

Harkless is a 6’9″ wing that has fallen out of the rotation in Portland. He is shooting 38% from behind the arc this season and is still just 24 years old. He was the 15th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, eight spots behind Harrison Barnes.

He would give the Mavericks much-needed depth on the wing behind Harrison Barnes.

Dallas would also get a future second round pick in the deal.

This deal basically comes down to two things: Is Portland willing to attach a second round pick with Harkless and is it worth it for Dallas to sacrifice cap space for a flyer on the wing?

Personally, I’m not sold on the deal as I believe the $22 million in cap space over the next two seasons would be more worth it.