Dallas Mavericks: Why the Mavs should trade for Derrick Favors

The Dallas Mavericks have exceeded expectations beyond the wildest dreams of fans this season. Here is why Derrick Favors provides an upgrade for the Mavs.

The Dallas Mavericks have made a massive improvement this season that no one saw coming. Expectations have been overachieved, and Luka Doncic has immediately put his name in the NBA MVP race. Kristaps Porzingis so far has had ups and downs starting out his career with the Mavs, but let’s not ignore the massive improvement on the defensive end.

The Mavericks have a playoff spot all but locked up, but there are legitimate concerns in certain areas for the club. Dwight Powell signed a massive contract extension during the summer. Fans haven’t seen any major improvements in his ability to defend and grab boards, though. At this point, Powell provides some of the best rim rolling play in the league, but not a ton in other departments.

The Mavs need a center or a forward that can bang down low and crash the boards in their rotation. At the beginning of the season, Tim Hardaway Jr. looked like a trade piece for the deadline. Ironically, supporters have seen massive improvements in his efficiency, but can he keep it up through the rest of the season?

Plenty of marquee names will be floating around at the trade deadline. They include All-Star talents and rotation pieces that could make an impact down the stretch. Kevin Love is one of the top bigs. He has been shopped by the Cavaliers virtually every season since he arrived in Cleveland.

Despite the Mavs ranking close to the top in rebounds per game, there should always be an upgrade in mind. Luka Doncic is averaging 9.6 per while Porzingis is averaging a career-high at 9.4. KP is dealing with a knee injury, though. The Mavericks should have a couple of players on their radar for depth and insurance in case it turns worse.

Next: A possible trade