When an NBA team makes a deal at the deadline, they may want to temper their expectations for the rest of the year. Chemistry can take time to develop. A team may acquire a superstar and still fall short of expectations. If you don’t believe us, ask the Dallas Mavericks.
This team brought Kyrie Irving in at the deadline. That was a bold gambit. As talented as Irving is, he’s been known to tank team chemistry. Either way, Irving didn’t immediately click with co-star Luka Doncic. The Mavericks were not satisfied with the remainder of their season. Yet, the Mavericks retained Irving this summer anyway.
That was the right decision. Dallas couldn’t afford to have sent out assets to land Irving for a half-season. Besides, he’ll have had an entire summer to develop chemistry with his teammates now. With that said Dallas could stand to make some roster changes to improve the group around their star duo. Could they start by acquiring Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers?
The Trade Proposal
Indiana Pacers Receive: G/F Tim Hardaway Jr., G/F Josh Green, G Jaden Hardy, 2027 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2028 First-Round Pick (Swap – DAL)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: C Myles Turner
By contrast, hesitating to make a deal can pose problems for teams as well. Hanging onto a player for too long can hurt their trade value. On the other hand, rushing into a trade doesn’t benefit anybody, either.
If these thoughts are keeping the Pacers’ brain trust up at night, we don’t blame them. Should they trade Turner? Should they keep him? You can justify either decision. Turner is reasonably young, but if the Pacers are rebuilding, they could waste his prime. He’s an exceedingly useful player – and that’s exactly why the Pacers would get a haul for him. What should the Pacers do?
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Last season, they started by extending him. That made sense – whether they’re trading Turner or not, he’s got more value on a long-term contract. Should they really turn around and send him to the Mavericks?
Why The Indiana Pacers Do The Deal
The Pacers are at a crossroads. This team was sneakily competitive last year, but they still weren’t good enough to earn a playoff berth. They could make marginal moves to improve, or, they could undergo a long-term rebuilding process.
We’d go the latter route. Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t even hit his prime yet. Between Jarace Walker, Benedict Mathurin, and others, there’s plenty of young talent on this roster. Here, we’ve got the Pacers adding more. Jaden Hardy could be a star player in time, and Josh Green could be a valuable utility player for a contender in a few years.
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Meanwhile, the Pacers net an unprotected first-round pick and a swap here as well. If the Mavericks don’t win a title, the Doncic/Irving partnership could come to an end before 2028. If this swap conveys, this could be a steal for the Pacers. Should the Mavericks take that risk?
Why The Dallas Mavericks Do The Deal
The Mavericks can’t worry about the future. This team needs to exist in the here and now. Doncic and Irving are together. Now, the goal is to win an NBA championship. What are the Mavericks missing?
Primarily, they’re missing a defensive anchor. In time, Derrick Lively III could be one, but he’s likely to be raw as a rookie. By contrast, Turner is polished. He’s an elite rim protector who can also defend in space. Turner would be a huge addition to this Mavericks roster.
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Sure, they’re giving up on Hardy prematurely. In time, he could be a star scoring guard. In time. Again – the Mavericks don’t have time. This team needs to make a title push, and Turner is the man to help them do it. If possible, they should look to acquire him before this season’s deadline.
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