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In one of the sweeter surprises of the ongoing NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks have exceeded early expectations and now find themselves in a heated tussle for a finish in the top four seeds of the Western Conference.
Luka Doncic has been the primary catalyst behind Dallas' upturn in fortunes. However, the rest of the roster turned up in the Mavericks' string of outings against Eastern Conference contenders when the Slovenian was injured to prove that this franchise is not just a one-man show.
While the likes of Kristaps Porzingis and Seth Curry have made crucial contributions, the Mavs need much more depth if they are to have a deep postseason run this season. With that in mind, let us now look at the three players that the Mavericks should trade for before the February 6 deadline.
#3 Steven Adams
A lot of fuss has been made about Kristaps Porzingis' underwhelming post-up play. While the Mavs still have the best offensive rating in the league, there's no harm in adding that extra bit of versatility to your Arsenal. Steven Adams would provide just that.
Owed over $50 million over the next two years, the Kiwi is more suited to playing on a contender than on a rebuilding team in Oklahoma City Thunder. He's still one of the best in the business as far as snagging offensive boards is concerned and will be an omnipresent entity inside the paint on both ends of the floor.
Adams' physicality is bound to attract the attention of defenders and that would allow Porzingis more room to get his offense going. He would also be a good option in the pick-and-roll for Luka Doncic. Adams is bound to provide solidity on the defensive end as well.
The Mavs would probably have to throw in up and coming center Dwight Powell and an expiring contract to get the deal done.
#2 Andre Drummond
Another player that has been actually linked to the Mavs, Andre Drummond is yet another double-double threat who could seriously bolster the chances of Luka Doncic and co. An absolute behemoth on the glass, Drummond has already led the NBA in total rebounds in three seasons.
Much like Adams, Drummond will also bring his post-up game into the fray and is a proper shot-blocking threat on the other end of the court as well. The 26-year-old is averaging 18 points and 16 rebounds per game so far this season and a pairing with Kristaps Porzingis would spell trouble for opposition frontcourt players.
Given Drummond's outlandish rebounding numbers, he's likely to take some of the load off Doncic who himself is averaging nearly 10 rebounds a game and allow him to focus more on running up the court as far as playing in transition and fastbreaks are concerned.
The Pistons are likely to ask for a hefty fee for Drummond. A package of Dwight Powell and Courtney Lee and a few draft picks would be expected at the bare minimum.
#1 Andre Iguodala
As we've seen time and again in NBA history, no matter how good the playing core, experience and temperament are key to success in the postseason. And this is one department where the Dallas Mavericks need serious reinforcements.
Luka Doncic may be the leader of the unit, but the team lacks veterans who can step in and ask the players to hold their composure under trying circumstances. The few veterans that the Mavs have lack enough playoff experience. This is where Andre Iguodala comes in.
The 2015 NBA Finals MVP has won three rings in the last decade and knows enough about the challenges that the postseason brings with it. In addition to that, he would improve Dallas' defense exponentially. One of the best on-the-ball defenders in the league, Iguodala would help Rick Carlisle's men improve their tally of 91.2 opposition field goals attempted per game, a lowly 24th in the association.
Although a couple of players will have to move towards Memphis Grizzlies to match the salaries, the franchise is likely to be more interested in draft picks and the Mavericks will have to bring that aspect into the picture to get the trade done.
