3 Ways the DeMarcus Cousins Trade Affects Dallas

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Feb 15, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 98-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

2.) 2018 & Beyond

New Orleans made the trade with Sacramento under the assumption that they can sign Cousins to an extension, thus making the Davis and Cousins pairing a duo that will torture the Western Conference for many years.

For Dallas, this puts another team ahead of them going forward.

As current rosters are constructed, the following teams I would put over the Mavericks moving forward.

Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Then you have teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets that have rosters that could drastically change over the next six months due to free agency and the trade deadline.

The Cousins trade basically means the same to the Mavericks this year as it does moving forward, it means anther team will be ahead of them in the playoff hunt.

Next: Potential Mavs Trades