Dallas Traded One Veteran Scorer for Another
The Mavericks acquired Cedric Ceballos from Phoenix on February 18, 1998, sending Dennis Scott to the Suns. Both names were known NBA perimeter or forward scorers, so this was an exchange of immediate playing options rather than future selections. The canonical record identifies no accompanying first-round pick or cash payment. Dallas was seeking more useful scoring for the rest of the season, while Phoenix accepted a different veteran shooting profile.
Ceballos Gave Dallas More Immediate Offense
Ceballos provided the Mavericks with an experienced scoring option. His value was concentrated in a comparatively short Dallas stretch rather than a decade-long role with the club. That distinction matters in assigning a B instead of treating the transaction as a franchise breakthrough. The Mavericks obtained the better direct incoming production while still acquiring a player whose best years and largest career accomplishments mostly belonged to earlier periods.
Scott Was a Real NBA Return for Phoenix
Phoenix received Dennis Scott, an established shooter with previous NBA production, not a non-conveyed draft promise. Scott's post-trade value for the Suns was limited compared with what Ceballos provided Dallas, but the presence of an actual veteran makes a C grade more appropriate than a zero-return assessment. The transaction was close enough in scale that neither side should receive credit for high-value additional assets that the trade ledger doesn't show.
Final Verdict
Mavericks Win. Dallas earns B for obtaining Cedric Ceballos's veteran scoring during the 1998 season. Phoenix gets C for Dennis Scott, whose incoming role delivered less useful realized value. Neither club transferred premium draft capital, so the outcome is an advantage in player contribution rather than a transformative deal.