2. Dallas Mavericks
The one thing that the Dallas Mavericks are on the search for ahead of the trade deadline is a secondary ball-handler to pair with Luka Doncic in the starting lineup. Jalen Brunson has stepped into the role, but that has left the bench lacking a little bit.
Should Russell Westbrook come available, the Mavericks are one team that could pursue him aggressively. They are one team that has the personnel to truly overcome all of his shortcomings.
Westbrook has not been a good defender this season. Normally with the Mavericks, that is an issue for them. This season, they have consistently been a top-10 unit and in recent weeks have been even better.
3-point shooting is another weakness of Westbrook’s. The Mavericks have struggled shooting the ball themselves, but the roster would fit well around him. Doncic, Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith and Kristaps Porzingis would make for an intriguing lineup as they have enough to get the job done on both ends of the court.
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Having a big man with the shooting ability of Porzingis is exactly what Westbrook needs around him to succeed. Being able to move Doncic off the ball a little more frequently could open up things offensively. It could also improve his performance defensively as he won’t be carrying the load on offense alone.
