The Mavericks are seeking a secondary play-maker to complement Luka Doncic, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, who says Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, and Bulls guard Zach LaVine are among Dallas’ potential trade targets.
The Mavs don’t project to have any cap room until 2021, but rather than sitting back and waiting a year to try to make a splash, the team is expected to be active in trade talks this month as it pursues another impact player. As a report last month indicated, the franchise doesn’t want to waste any time upgrading its roster around Doncic, who already looks like a perennial MVP candidate.
Oladipo, who is entering a contract year, has reportedly agitated some Pacers teammates and may not have a long-term future in Indiana, making him a potential target for Dallas. Typically, a 28-year-old who has made multiple All-Star teams would require a significant return, but Oladipo didn’t look like his old self last season after returning from his torn quad tendon. If the Mavs are willing to roll the dice on his health, like they did in 2019 with Kristaps Porzingis, the price might be a little lower than usual.
As for Dinwiddie, we heard earlier this week that multiple contending teams in the Western Conference had engaged in internal discussions about pursuing the Brooklyn guard. It’s safe to say the Mavs were one of those clubs, though it remains to be seen if the Nets will consider moving Dinwiddie. He may have his role reduced in 2020/21 with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving back in the lineup, but he’s also an important insurance policy in Brooklyn, given Irving’s and Caris LeVert‘s injury histories.
Meanwhile, we noted earlier today that the Mavs were among the teams that have contacted the Bulls recently to inquire on LaVine’s availability. Unless Chicago drafts a potential franchise guard such as LaMelo Ball next Wednesday, I’d be a bit surprised to see the team place LaVine on the trade block. Still, we don’t yet have a clear idea of which players new Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is most attached to.
Oladipo, Dinwiddie, and LaVine will have respective cap hits of $21MM, $11.5MM, and $19.5MM in 2020/21, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for the Mavs to match salaries in any trade, either using Tim Hardaway‘s $19MM expiring deal or a smaller contract or two. Dallas also has this year’s Nos. 18 and 31 picks available to dangle in a trade offer.
I would be interested in a Josh Richardson for Seth & the 18…I could add the 21 but would still hope for the 31 thrown in as well.
Damn a bit much for Richardson
Well you got Richardson for Seth. And you were nice enough to throw in a draft pick too!
Lol, touché
Mavs need to look for the top healthy players like Wiggins and Bam.
When you have Kristaps Porzingis, you don’t look for Oladipo.
Dude the heat are NOT trading Bam. Where do you come up with this stuff?
Your most intelligent post ever, congrats.
Wiggins is far from a top player, and would be as bad a fit as Lavine. Dallas is already a top offensive team (and an awful defensive one). You need to pair Luka with strong perimeter defenders, not with inefficient scorers who couldn’t guard their shadow.
I agree with you 90%. Especially to improve the team into a contender right away. But I do think we need another offensive creator long term. I don’t want Luka to turn into Harden and we had trouble scoring at the end of games when teams would key in on Luka. He is carrying too big a load.
I agree with you 77%. If Luka only plays D when he feels like it, he already is James Harden. Carrying too much load, wanting it and ultimately not able to adjust as needed to win championships.
I agree with you 62% Luca has shown the effort to defend. Harden is a ball hogging volume shooter that has already run two elite PGs out of Houston.
Luka is a poor man’s Harden.
Harden is a generational talent for sure… but Luka can very well end up as the GOAT… which means that as of now he is as good as Harden & gotta get a lot better than him, as simple as!
I am a big Harden fan… but Luka is from another planet dude, that good, right?
lol whatever you say guy. harden only became good once he got traded to houston. luka came out great. also if luka took 45 shots per game like harden does, im sure he put up the same amount of points if not more than harden….
Nets have Dinwiddie, LeVert, Allen, and picks. To get another top player. I would keep LeVert.
A bit off topic, but the word “dangle” is one of my favorite words.
if i were the rockets, i just trade the farm away. trade harden (and others like pj tucker) to the nets and get back dinwiddie, levert, allen and picks. trade westbrook to clippers in a sign and trade for Harrell and lou williams. that gives you some picks back and gets your 3/4 young players.
i dont get why the mavericks would use /trade the 18th pick for victor oladipo. if dallas is going after Giannis next offseason whats the point of trading the 18th pick. becasue dallas wont be able to resign victor if they land Giannis. also if dallas does strike out on Giannis, why not just sign victor next year? and you get to keep the 18th pick.
if i were dallas i trade with atlanta for pick 6. trade brunson, d.wright, justin jackson and dwight powell and draft rights to pick 18 or future 2025 1st (atlanta choice). maybe add curry in there as well to get a deal done?
dallas gets:
pick 6th and possibly a bad contract hawks dont want. and clears up a ton of cap for this offseason and next.
atlanta gets:
brunson- backup PG something atlanta doesnt have and on a good contract.
d.wright- defensive guard that can help trey young out (as in wright guards the better offensive players).
justin jackson- pure project/depth fa after season.
dwight powell- injured now. but can either space the floor when you sit clint capela or can take over john collins spots if atlanta lets collins walk in 2021.
all those guys are good veteran role players and still kinda young.
if altanta chooses dallas 2025pick dallas then has the 6th and 18th pick in the draft and can either package them for a star or draft two really good decent rookies
also i think dinwiddie kinda like fred vanfleet are only good in their current roles. i think if they go anywhere else, they wont be as good. just my opinion.
zach lavine would be a great fit for mavs but i dont think bulls trade him
That’s a terrible trade for Dallas. And then you want us to add Seth too? That’s our entire 2nd unit to move up 12 spots in a bad draft.. no thanks, not a chance..