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After a dreadful 2017/18 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks have enjoyed an exciting start to the season. While the team lost both Seth Curry and Nerlens Noel in the summer, they were able to bring in DeAndre Jordan, while also convincing Dirk Nowitzki to spend one final season in Dallas.
The Mavericks also had an excellent 2018 draft, as the team managed to trade Trae Young for the breakout rookie of the NBA season, Luka Doncic.
The Slovenian 19-year-old has been a revelation so far this season, and his partnership with 21-year-old Dennis Smith Jr. has been exciting to watch. The two youngsters look to be the future of the Mavericks franchise, and their performances this season have contributed to the Mavericks being surprise contenders for the playoffs.
The Mavericks currently have a 15-14 record, and they are just two wins behind the 8th seeded San Antonio Spurs. With Doncic continuing to get better every week, and Nowitzki recently returning from injury, the Mavericks will believe that they have a realistic shot at making the postseason.
Nevertheless, the team could still improve the roster by making moves in the trade market, and here are three player's that the Mavericks should consider trading away as part of a deal.
#3 Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell was selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Shortly after the draft, the power forward landed on the Celtics, although he played just five times in his rookie year. The Mavericks took a chance on the player back in 2015, although Powell has yet to prove that he can become a valuable player on the roster.
The 27-year-old is making $9.6 million for the current season, while he also has a $10.3 million player option for next year. This is a bad contract for a player making little impact, and ultimately, the team requires a reliable back up center to DeAndre Jordan, as Powell has failed to demonstrate his ability to fill in for the All-Star.
#2 Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes is an effective NBA player, although doubts remain over his ability to make the Mavericks contenders. The 26-year-old is currently halfway through a four-year, $94 million contract that he signed with the franchise back in 2016, and his salary has increased to close to $25 million for the 18/19 season. Despite this, Barnes has yet to make an All-Star appearance, and the Mavericks fanbase is split on his impact.
Barnes is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, although his field goal percentage in this season is at a career low. The Mavericks also have the exciting young duo of Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr., so it remains to be seen if Barnes will feature in the long-term plans of the franchise.
Nevertheless, Barnes is currently locked into a contract until 2020, and if the Mavericks were willing to trade the forward, then they could get a lot of pieces in return.
#1 Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews is a well-respected, experienced member of the Mavericks franchise, although the organization is looking to move towards youth, and the 32-year-old appears to have no long-term future in Dallas.
The Mavericks were keen to part ways with Matthews during the summer, however, the veteran exercised his $18.6 million player option for the 18/19 NBA season. It was an easy decision for Matthews, as he will never earn that kind of money anywhere else, although the Mavericks could still try and trade the player away before the trade deadline.
Since joining the Mavericks back in 2015, Matthews has averaged 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists, and this kind of production could interest a team such as the Pelicans. If the Mavericks can get a draft pick in return for the shooting guard then they should look to complete a deal this month.
