3 Big men the Dallas Mavericks must trade for after Dereck Lively II's injury

Earlier this week, the Dallas Mavericks' horrendous injury luck just got way worse.

In a game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, Dereck Lively II sprained his right ankle early into the game. He immediately knew he had tweaked it, as he requested to be subbed out immediately. Lively II tried to do some band resistance work on the bench on his injured ankle for a few minutes, but he ultimately ended up heading back to the locker room and didn't return to the game.

There haven't been any significant updates on Lively II's injury outside of Chris Haynes reporting that initial X-rays came back negative, and the Mavericks could be without him for some time. Dallas ruled out Lively II for tonight's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday, and with that early injury designation being considered, he could end up missing Monday's game against the Charlotte Hornets, and potentially more time.

3 Big men the Mavs should target after Lively II's ankle injury

Lively II's injury luck has been awful this season, and considering that he is one of the most important players on the team, it may be time for the Mavericks to consider making a trade for a third big man to play behind him and Daniel Gafford to give them more depth when he misses time.

Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell have been playing more minutes at center with Lively II out, and although both players can produce in limited minutes, they can't be consistently relied upon against the top contenders in the league. Regardless of how serious Lively II's injury is, a third big is crucial right now, especially if Dallas moves Kleber at the trade deadline.

3. Obi Toppin

Obi Toppin of the Indiana Pacers has played more small-ball center than expected this season, and despite him primarily being a power forward, he is someone Dallas should eye. This season for the Pacers, Toppin is averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from downtown, and he would thrive next to Luka Doncic.

Toppin would give the Mavs defensive versatility, energy, and unworldly athleticism, and his ability to finish above the rim would give Dallas' offense a new wrinkle when considering how great of a lob threat he is. Doncic loves playing with players who are effective lob catchers, and his off-ball cutting would lead to some big-time slams if the Mavs made a move for him.

He provides enough versatility to make a case to be an effective defender in Jason Kidd's system, and he is the type of player who can be a major x-factor once the playoffs roll around considering how much energy just one slam can bring to the arena. Toppin got the most playoff experience of his career last season as the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, and he could be getting more of the same if Dallas pursues him.

2. Larry Nance Jr.

Larry Nance Jr. had had a strange season with the Atlanta Hawks, as his minutes per game are at the lowest point of his career (19.4), and he has also been dealing with a hand injury that has forced him to be out since the end of December.

While Nance Jr. wouldn't be ready to contribute right away if Dallas traded for him considering that he is still recovering from hand surgery, he is an extremely intriguing fit to come play small-ball five for the Mavs. He is shooting an impressive 52 percent from downtown this season for Atlanta on over three attempts per game, and his 3-point shooting and incredible athleticism would make him a seamless fit in Dallas.

Just like Toppin, Nance Jr.'s ability to finish above the rim is strong, and he would give Doncic and Kyrie Irving a new pick-and-roll threat who can also drift outside and drill open shots when needed. His career seems to be trending towards him shooting more threes after two quiet years from behind the arc in New Orleans, and Dallas would be a great spot for him to capitalize on that growing skill.

1. Isaiah Stewart

Dallas' trade interest in Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons dates back to last season, and although they haven't reportedly shown interest in him this season, he is someone who should be on their radar.

Stewart is averaging 5.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game for the Pistons this season, and he is back to playing mostly center rather than power forward like we saw last season. He has quickly become one of the backbones of the Pistons' defense, and his grit, tenacity, and physicality would make him a great fit to join Dallas' bench unit.

Stewart backs down from no one, and his rim protection, intentionality, and energy as a defender would help him flourish in Kidd's system considering that the Mavericks coaching staff highly values energy and effort. Dallas could also experiment with allowing him to play some stretch four or five again, as this resulted in him shooting 38.3 percent from downtown last season.