Dallas Acquired a Scoring Forward for Two Centers and Cash
On February 24, 2005, the Mavericks traded Alan Henderson and Calvin Booth to Milwaukee, along with $250,000, to obtain veteran forward Keith Van Horn. Dallas was trying to add perimeter shooting and a scoring reserve around Dirk Nowitzki ahead of the playoffs. Van Horn had become a movable piece in Milwaukee after joining the Bucks in a different 2004 deal. Henderson and Booth were frontcourt players rather than incoming Dallas contributors; both went to the Bucks. The cash traveled with them to Milwaukee, and no first-round draft pick was part of this transaction. That exact asset direction matters because Dallas obtained the one player with a major immediate scoring role.
Van Horn Scored for Dallas Across Two Playoff Seasons
Van Horn appeared in 29 Mavericks games after the deal in 2004-05, with three starts and averages of 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 23.6 minutes. He helped Dallas spread the floor as a power forward who could shoot away from the rim. In 2005-06 he played 53 more regular-season games, averaged 8.9 points, and was an experienced bench option as Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals against Miami. He was not the star of that Finals run, which was built around Nowitzki and the main Dallas rotation, but he supplied two seasons of useful offense. The B+ Mavericks grade reflects 82 regular-season appearances and identifiable postseason roster utility, rather than projecting his earlier Nets scoring peak into the Dallas years.
Milwaukee Received Depth Without a Comparable Offensive Return
Henderson and Booth brought the Bucks veteran frontcourt options, and the $250,000 gave Milwaukee documented financial consideration. But neither player became the same kind of scoring option that Dallas received in Van Horn. Booth had already been used in a reserve center role, while Henderson was late in a career that once included more consistent starting seasons. Milwaukee could redistribute minutes and manage contracts, but that was a narrower return than the Mavericks’ 12.2-point midseason addition. The Bucks C grade acknowledges the cash and depth without inventing a future pick, contract extension or new Milwaukee star created by the transaction. The benefit to Dallas was visible during the very season of the trade.
Final Verdict
Slight Mavericks Edge. Dallas earns B+ for Keith Van Horn’s 29 games at 12.2 points in 2004-05 and 53 more games on its 2006 Finals team. Milwaukee receives C for Alan Henderson, Calvin Booth and $250,000 cash. The veteran scoring return was stronger for Dallas.