Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Dallas Mavericks
After almost taking down the Los Angeles Clippers in the first-round of the playoffs last season, the Mavericks entered the year with high expectations, but have failed to meet their goals near the half-way point in the season. Luka Doncic is a sensational young talent who is in the MVP conversation and Kristaps Porzingis has started to play better, but outside of these two, the Mavs do not have many reliable players.
Tim Hardaway Jr, Josh Richardson and Jalen Brunson make up the group of secondary talents on this team, but none of these three guys really scare other teams in the league in terms of production. If the Mavs are to be a legit playoff team in a crowded Western Conference, they are going to have to make a big move at the NBA trade deadline, which is why Myles Turner could be a real target for them.
Not only is Myles Turner one of the top defensive big men in the league, leading the league in blocks during the 2018-19 season, but he has all the makings of being a great offensive player as well. Turner can knock down shots from the perimeter in volume, as he has shot 35.7% from deep over the course of his five years of NBA experience, and is a threat to score in the low-post.
In Indiana, Turner’s role on the offensive-end of the court has gone down over the years, even though he has shown flashes of being a very consistent two-way player. With two high-level frontcourt players, the Mavericks would not just be a really big team, but they could have one of the best defensive frontcourts in the league.
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Both Porzingis and Turner are above-average shot-blockers and could elevate this Mavericks team into being a terrific defensive team. With not as much offensive firepower as last year, Dallas could ultimately find a lot of success on the defensive end of the court, potentially leading them to the playoffs.
It would cost them quite a bit in terms of overall depth but Myles Turner is a difference maker and could be exactly what the Dallas Mavericks need to be a legit contender this season in the Western Conference.
