The Dallas Mavericks are expected to be active ahead of the NBA trade deadline this year. The team is in a good position, but they could improve their standing and outlook come the postseason if they could make an impact acquisition.
Dallas doesn’t have the draft capital or young players that other teams may possess to build a package around, but they will certainly be aggressive. The Mavericks will be looking to upgrade their offensive punch, specifically 3-point shooting, without negatively impacting their defense too much.
For years, this was a team built on offensive firepower that just hoped to outscore opponents. This season, their offense has struggled to consistently get on track, but they have one of the best defenses in the NBA. With a consistent defense, the Mavericks have a better shot at advancing through the postseason this year than in years past.
Jerami Grant, John Collins and Myles Turner have been players the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to. All three would provide two-way production that the team is looking for, but Dallas will have to get creative when building their package to compete with other teams.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets Involving Finney-Smith For Mavs To Consider
One player that they could make available is Dorian Finney-Smith. Smith is heading toward free agency, so the team acquiring him would retain his rights and be able to go over the salary cap to retain him.
That is good news because Finney-Smith is looking to cash in this offseason. According to Bleacher Report, he will be seeking a deal that pays him $15 million annually. With Jalen Brunson also heading into free agency it could be very difficult to keep both players, as Brunson is likely to command a contract of at least that value, if not a little more expensive.
Finney-Smith picked a great time to have arguably the best season of his career. He is scoring a career-high 10.3 points per game and has developed into a reliable 3-point shooter in recent seasons.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trade Targets Involving Finney-Smith For Mavs To Consider
His most sought-after attribute is his defense. Dorian Finney-Smith has the size to defend both forward spots but is athletic enough to stick with most wing players as well. He normally takes the toughest defensive assignment, something that teams will be drawn to that could be interested in acquiring him ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
