The Dallas Mavericks have played an up-and-down brand of basketball during the 2022-23 NBA season. Right when it looks like they have achieved a breakthrough and sustained success, they regress to the .500 mark.
Currently riding a three-game losing streak. Dallas is in fifth place in the Western Conference, but they are as close to being in 12th place and outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament as they are to fourth place. An extended losing streak could quickly derail their season in the congested standings.
After advancing to the Western Conference Finals last season, there is some pressure on the Mavericks to perform well this season. Luka Doncic, who normally doesn’t get involved in player personnel decisions, has recently urged the team to make moves to upgrade the roster.
Limited on assets, it is up for debate how big of a trade the Mavericks will be able to pull off. They aren’t overflowing with draft capital and there aren’t many players on the roster that would add much value to a package.
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But, that doesn’t mean that the front office won’t try and make some moves. Over at Bleacher Report, a blockbuster, three-team trade was proposed that would land the Mavericks the second superstar they are coveting to pair with Doncic.
The Mavericks would receive Pascal Siakam, Robin Lopez, and Dalano Banton. The Cleveland Cavaliers would receive Tim Hardaway Jr. and Juancho Hernangomez. The Toronto Raptors would receive Kevin Love, Christian Wood, and Josh Green, a 2023 second-round pick (via CLE), 2025 first-round picks (via DAL), and a 2027 first-round pick (via DAL).
Siakam would be the kind of two-way All-Star Dallas has been seeking out for years. Their need for ball handling wouldn’t be fulfilled but Jason Kidd would have an excellent small-ball lineup to deploy around Doncic with Siakam, Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Luka Doncic & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Cavaliers have shown interest in Hardaway and acquire him in this hypothetical scenario. Parting ways with Love to make this deal happen is hard to envision being something the Cavaliers are willing to do. He is very important to the team beyond the production he provides on the court.
Toronto adds even more assets for the future while being able to remain competitive in the short term. Wood has been playing excellently since being inserted into the Mavericks’ starting lineup and Green fits the mold of two-way athletes the franchise loves. Their frontcourt needs are satisfied with Kevin Love coming on board along with Wood.
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The Raptors may be the biggest winners in this deal. They clear a ton of future salary and add unprotected first-round picks, which always hold value. If they made another run to acquire a superstar via trade, they have even more assets to now include.
