Many aren't considering the Dallas Mavericks as championship contenders next season, and it might be tough to argue with them. However, on the flip side, if everything goes well for the Mavericks and Kyrie Irving returns toward the end of next season, about a month before the playoffs, Dallas could become a very good team.
In the event that Irving returns and everybody else is healthy, nobody would want to see the Mavericks in a seven-game series come playoff time.
MORE: NBA announces prestigious Knicks-Mavericks game on MLK Day
There's also a side to that which involves going out to add more.
The Mavericks could be a player or two away, whether it be just adding a depth piece or trying to find another lead guard.
ClutchPoints' Rohan Brahmbhatt had a different trade idea for the Mavericks to consider, naming them a possible fit for Utah Jazz big man Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic was traded to the Jazz recently, but his stint might be short-lived.
“Nurkic’s presence is especially important for now because the Jazz have several inexperienced frontcourt players still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA. He can anchor defensive schemes, set sturdy screens for developing guards, and keep the offense functional when the game slows down. But by midseason, teams in need of playoff-ready size will almost certainly call.
“Possible suitors could include the Dallas Mavericks, the New York Knicks, or the Sacramento Kings if they want to add a more physical interior presence. For the Jazz, trading Nurkić before the deadline could mean bringing back a late first-rounder or multiple seconds, exactly the type of capital a rebuilding team should be chasing,” he wrote.
Barring anything happening to Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, or Dereck Lively, the better idea would be to go out and get another guard.
The Mavericks already seem set at the center position, and while Davis has dealt with some injuries throughout the past few years, Dallas would still have two competent players who could fill his role.