The Dallas Mavericks were not very busy this offseason despite their desire to bring in another key player alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Among their rumored targets were Danilo Gallinari and Victor Oladipo. However, could they shift their attention to acquire Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons?
One of the main things that the Mavericks were rumored to be looking for this offseason was a player who could take some pressure off of Doncic. That would require a player who can handle the ball and create their own shot. Rose would check both of those boxes.
Over the past couple of years, Rose has completely revitalized his career. He has been able to stay relatively healthy and is more than capable of getting to the rim and scoring. Rose has also been able to shoot the ball decently well at times, although his three-point shoot still leaves something to be desired.
Last season with the Pistons, Rose ended up averaging 18.1 points per game to go along with 5.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds. He shot 49 percent from the floor overall, but only knocked down 30.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
Despite the low three-point shooting numbers, Rose would not be asked to shoot much. If he is open, he would need to pull the trigger, but otherwise the three-point shot would not be stressed.
Instead, Derrick Rose would be asked to focus on what has made him a star throughout his NBA career. The Mavericks would want him to get to the rim and create for his teammates. Rose would also be asked to create his own shots in the mid-range, which he is more than capable of doing.
Mark Cuban is no stranger to trying to acquire star power. He has been successful in acquiring stars and he has swung and missed on some big names. Rose may not be the MVP-caliber player that he once was, but he would still be a very big addition for the Mavericks.
There is no question that the Mavericks are just a piece or two away from a potential NBA Finals appearance. Even with the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers being the overwhelming favorites in the Western Conference, the Mavericks are confident that they can compete.
Rose would not be a piece that comes in and immediately makes the Mavericks the favorite in the West. But, he could come in and be a guy that scores between 15 to 20 points per game very single night. That kind of a threat in the starting lineup or off of the bench would give the Mavs some much-needed firepower.
All of that being said, the Mavericks may not end up pursuing a trade with the Pistons for Rose, but they should. Derrick Rose would bring star power, scoring, and playmaking to the roster. His presence would free up Doncic a bit as well.
Expect to see the Mavericks continue looking for ways to improve their roster while still maintaining financial flexibility for the future. With Rose having one year left on his deal, he would be a perfect trade target for the Mavericks to help win this season and still have room to make moves in the future.
