The Dallas Mavericks have gotten off to a hot start in the 2023-24 NBA regular season. At 7-2, they are currently occupying the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. A big reason for their success in the early going has been incredible production on the offensive side of the court.
The Mavericks currently have the second-best offensive rating in the NBA, which has led to the No. 6 overall net rating at +6.4. They could be even higher on the list with a better performance on the defensive end of the court.
Dallas is currently 23rd in defensive rating, which is why many people believe their hot start is unsustainable. If they cannot consistently get stops on defense, it is going to be hard to consistently win games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dwight Powell, Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks Updates
That is why Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report has suggested the Mavericks go out and make a trade to upgrade their defense. They have some versatile pieces that fill numerous roles on the team, such as Grant Williams and Maxi Kleber in the frontcourt and Dante Exum and Josh Green in the backcourt.
However, none of those four players don’t have the skill set needed to match up against wings for long periods of time. That is why Hughes suggested the Mavericks try and make a trade with the Houston Rockets for Jae’Sean Tate.
A potential trade package could be Tate heading to Dallas in exchange for Dwight Powell, a 2025 second-round pick via the Toronto Raptors and a 2028 second-round pick via the Miami Heat. While this isn’t a deal that would garner a ton of national headlines, it is one which Dallas could greatly benefit from.
Tate brings the size and versatility to the table which the Mavericks are currently missing in their rotation. After trading Dorian Finney-Smith as part of the Kyrie Irving blockbuster, Jason Kidd has missed having a player who can defend on the perimeter while having the size to bang on the interior as well.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Dwight Powell, Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Mavericks attempted to fill this void when they signed Matisse Thybulle to an offer sheet in restricted free agency, but the Portland Trail Blazers matched the deal. The offer Hughes proposed is solid for both sides, as the Mavericks would fill that hole they have had for months.
From the Rockets’ perspective, they get some veteran depth at the center position on a team looking to rise the ranks this season. They also save some money and get two future second-round picks as sweeteners in exchange for a player in Tate who will likely be buried on the depth chart when the roster is healthy.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
