The NBA trade market is heating up as we inch closer to the Feb 9 trade deadline, with teams looking to add the best pieces available to their roster. One such team that has been active in this space is the Dallas Mavericks. After reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, the Luka Doncic-led Mavs are determined to at least match that level of success this year, if not better.
The Mavs currently hold the 7th seed in the highly competitive Western Conference with a 26-25 record. Every single game holds a lot of importance for them at this point as they try to push for a better positioning come playoff time. That being said, the elite play of Luka Doncic has been a huge factor behind their current record. If it wasn’t for him, the record would’ve looked much worse right now.
Who are the Dallas Mavericks looking to acquire by this trade deadline?
Doncic is playing the best basketball of his career right now and is one of the frontrunners for the MVP trophy. Averaging a stellar 33 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game, Luka is carrying most of the load for his team on his back night in and night out. While the Mavs have gotten some production from players like Christian Wood and Spencer Dinwiddie, it’s still not enough if they want to repeat last year’s success.
A Luka Doncic mural has appeared in Dallas…
(via thehouseofpannek/IG) pic.twitter.com/SpJk5Wc78j
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 14, 2023
Recently, a fan-made mural of Luka went viral on Twitter which contains some of Luka’s extraordinary stat lines from this season along with the plea, “Please send help.” Cuban had reportedly sent out a mail to the artist of that mural expressing his disapproval of the message it shows.
However, he seems to have acknowledged the fact that Luka does need help and is looking to add a star player to the roster. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, The Dallas Mavericks are open to moving forward Dorian Finney-Smith for a star player. Finney-Smith is averaging 8.9/4.5/1.4 for the season and is a guy who can do it all on both ends of the floor.
The Dallas Mavericks are open to moving Dorian Finney-Smith for a star player, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/aEvwdvXHPW
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) January 30, 2023
Cuban might have found suitors for him already. The Utah Jazz are reported to have expressed a “strong interest” in acquiring Finney-Smith. Though what they’re willing to give up for him is a whole other question. The Mavericks apparently have kept a high asking price for the 6-foot-7 wing, having rumored to have their eyes set on either Lauri Markkanen or Jordan Clarkson in return.
REPORT: The Jazz are expressing “strong interest” in Dorian Finney-Smith.
(via @ShamsCharania, https://t.co/ngH9prCFvG) pic.twitter.com/QhlvLI5alX
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 30, 2023
Markkanen is under contract till the 2024-25 season, while Clarkson can be a free agent at the end of this season due to his player option. As for Dorian Finney-Smith, the 29-year-old signed a four-year extension with the Mavs last year, which keeps him under contract till the 2025-26 season. It’ll be interesting to see if and what the Mavs can get for him as we approach the trade deadline.
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