Mavericks cannot damage this key aspect of roster when upgrading at the deadline

As each day passes, the NBA trade deadline is quietly approaching quicker than anyone realizes.

February 6 is only 24 days away, and considering that no major trades have happened yet outside of the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Dorian Finney-Smith, we could be in for an extremely busy next couple of weeks as teams look to round out their roster ahead of the second half of the season. The Dallas Mavericks are a team that is expected to be active at the trade deadline, but the rumors regarding who they could possibly be pursuing are few and far between.

Outside of knowing that Dallas won't pursue Kyle Kuzma or Jimmy Butler, we also know that they are looking to upgrade their frontcourt. The Mavericks want a defensive stopper to add to their already-stacked core, but they can't fall into the trap of giving up too much depth at the trade deadline to land such a player. We also know that Dallas is looking to move Maxi Kleber, and some chatter surrounding Quentin Grimes' market is also starting to heat up.

Mavericks can't afford to sacrifice too much depth at the trade deadline

In order for Dallas to go star chasing (if they wanted to do that), they would have to trade away multiple key pieces, and that is not a good recipe for success. The Mavericks' depth has been a key reason that they have been able to stay afloat without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the lineup, and the role players that they have right now are much more important than trying to make another star work in Dallas. Last year's trade deadline was the perfect example of the type of move that the Mavs need to make, and while they likely won't be pulling off two huge moves like they did for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, one move would suffice considering how their roster is currently built.

Dallas already has the perfect framework to go win a championship right now, and landing one more elite role player is all they need to elevate themselves to be the top dog in the Western Conference alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their core is intact, and one more defensive-minded player being added to that core is exactly what they need.

The Mavericks have already proven that they are one of the strongest teams in the NBA when they're fully healthy, and while Doncic and Irving have been spectacular when they've been on the floor, their depth is one of the main reasons that they look like true contenders. Dallas' depth almost led them to a win over the Denver Nuggets over the weekend, and they are going to be called upon to do the same thing tomorrow night on national television.

Nico Harrison aced last offseason by signing Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and their trade for Grimes has been a massive success as well. Each of these players has had huge moments so far this season, and without one of them, Dallas could be in a very different position today.

It remains clear that Dallas may need to make some sort of upgrade at the trade deadline, but it's essential that they don't sacrifice too much depth while doing so.