Dallas Mavericks: 5 stars they should’ve acquired over Kristaps Porzingis

Star Dallas Mavericks should have acquired over Kristaps Porzingis: 1. Jimmy Butler

Months before the Mavs acquired Kristaps Porzingis, the Timberwolves traded Butler to Philadelphia for a package of Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick. Yes, Butler was going through a public divorce with Minnesota, but Dallas should have struck at that moment. They would have had the five-time All-Star for Dirk Nowitzki’s final season.

Butler is elite on both ends of the floor. He can average 20 points per game and play lockdown defense. The 31-year-old led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals inside the bubble. He was traded again at the start of the 2019-2020 season. It would have been more difficult for Dallas to acquire him at that point. He chose the Heat and to be part of a sign-and-trade.

The Dallas Mavericks would be better off if they acquired Jimmy Butler over Kristaps Porzingis. Yes, Butler is not an elite 3-point shooter, but his perimeter defense, tenacity, and all-around game would have the Mavs contending for titles.

The Mavericks did well in the Porzingis deal. Tim Hardaway Jr. blossomed in Dallas. Trey Burke has turned into a role play for the Mavs. Yes, KP has disappointed, but Dallas still won the deal. The problem is not making it would have given the Mavericks ample opportunities at another star, but closing those deals has been difficult for the organization.

Do not count them out. The best is still yet to come from the Dallas Mavericks led by Luka Doncic. Stay tuned to see how they improve the roster this offseason and where the Mavs go from here.