I have no idea how the following leads to an NBA Finals appearance.

2018-2019 Season

1. Mavs trade Trae Young and a 1st for Luka Doncic (in the draft).
2. Mavs draft Jalen Brunson.
3. Mavs trade stuff and two 1sts for stuff and Kristaps Porzingis.
4. Mavs trade Harrison Barnes for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph and then waive Zach Randolph.

2019-2020 Season

5. Mavs receive two 2nds for stuff.
6. Mavs trade five 2nds in different deals for Delon Wright, Willie Cauley-Stein, and James Johnson.

2020-2021 Season

7. Mavs draft Josh Green.
8. Mavs trade one 2nd and stuff for podcaster J.J. Reddick.
9. Entire front office shake-up.

2021-2022 Season

10. Mavs trade Porzingis and a 2nd for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

2022-2023 Season

11. Mavs trade two 2nds for Jaden Hardy.
12. Mavs trade stuff for Christian Wood.
13. Jalen Brunson walks free.
14. Mavs trade Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, two 2nds, and one 1st for Kyrie Irving.

2023-2024 Season

15. Mavs take Richaun Holmes contract to receive Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
16. Mavs trade Davis Bertans and Cason Wallace for Dereck Lively II.
17. Mavs sign Derrick Jones Jr. via free agency.
18. Mavs effectively trade Reggie Bullock and a 1st swap for Grant Williams.
19. Mavs trade a 1st swap and Richaun Holmes for Daniel Gafford.
20. Mavs trade Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 1st for P.J. Washington and two 2nds.

Mavs draft picks remaining thru 2030 (seven drafts):

• Four 1sts (with the worst end of two swaps)
• Four 2nds (with the worst end of one swap)