Mavericks' best shot at dream move just hit rock bottom after Lonzo Ball trade

Dallas Mavericks fans' excitement from drafting Cooper Flagg on Wednesday of last week is still at a high, as Flagg is poised to be a star in Dallas right away and reenergize an organization that desperately needs it, but free agency and the trade market is also set to bring some excitement to the Mavericks as they search for a Kyrie Irving replacement to run the show while he recovers from the ACL tear he suffered at the beginning of March.

The Mavericks were linked in trade rumors to Lonzo Ball before he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro yesterday, and with the Chicago Bulls trading Ball, Dallas' odds of trading for Coby White may have just hit rock bottom.

White has been a fan-favorite trade target among Mavs fans for weeks, and while he was never officially linked to Dallas in trade rumors, the Bulls were just shopping him during the NBA Draft along with Ball, and he would be an excellent fit with the Mavs if they found a way to make a move for him.

Lonzo Ball trade kills Mavericks' Coby White dream

Last season for the Bulls, White averaged 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting a career-high 45.3 percent from the field and 37 percent from downtown. He was the leading scorer on the team (outside of Zach LaVine, who was ultimately traded to the Sacramento Kings), and his ability as a combo guard would have helped Dallas significantly as Irving rehabs his injury.

White's shooting, speed, ball handling, and all-around scoring ability would have helped the Mavs' ship sail smoothly while Irving is out, and he has the size and off-ball ability to make an impact alongside Irving once he returns as well. Standing at 6-foot-5, White has some decent size compared to other shooting guards around the league, and he thrives as a secondary playmaker.

Playing next to Irving would allow him to get countless open threes off the catch, and his decision-making and off-ball movement would help the offense run smoothly. White's ability to create his own shot would also be a breath of fresh air for Irving, as it was proven by his dynamic with Luka Doncic that he is at his best when sharing the backcourt with another creator.

White thrives when using his smooth handle and quickness to knife to the rim or when stopping on a dime to hit a mid-range jumper, and his transition game is also solid.

But now, with the Bulls getting rid of Ball, it seems unlikely that they part with White as well, as that would leave a major hole in the backcourt. Without White, the Bulls would be stuck with just Josh Giddey, and it seems unlikely that they would get rid of him right as this pairing begins.

Giddey and White complement each other better than they are given credit for, and if the Mavs wanted White, they probably should have made a move for him before the Bulls sent Ball to New Orleans. This doesn't mean that the Bulls are completely against trading White, but it does likely mean that their price just went way up.

It seems like the most likely outcome for Dallas will be signing D'Angelo Russell in free agency rather than trading for a stopgap guard, as they have been heavily linked to Russell for nearly a week now, and Mavs fans' pipe dream of landing White may officially be dead.