Mavericks caught one step behind as dream trade target shipped elsewhere

All offseason, Dallas Mavericks fans have wondered who the team will trade for to replace Kyrie Irving as he recovers from a torn ACL that he suffered back in March. A fan-favorite trade target among fans has been Lonzo Ball, as Dallas was linked to him in trade rumors just over a month ago, but their chance to secure his services may be long gone after a move went down on Saturday morning between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bulls are trading Ball to the Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro. With this move, the Cavs land a new backup point guard who can run the show when needed in Ball, while the Bulls land a 3-and-D wing to join their young core in Okoro.

The Bulls were shopping Ball during the draft, and the Cavs swooped in before the Mavericks could make a move for him.

Cavaliers steal Lonzo Ball before Mavericks can strike

It remains unclear exactly how interested the Mavericks were in trading for Ball this offseason, but it's obvious that he would have been an excellent fit in Dallas while Irving was out.

Ball would have been comfortable when running the offense during the first few months of the season for Dallas, as he has started in 253 games over the course of his career and proved he can be a floor general when needed, while also taking care of the ball and drilling open shots.

Ball's high IQ, passing, connectivity, and selflessness would have been a great fit at the starting point guard spot to start the season, especially considering that Jason Kidd wants Cooper Flagg to handle the ball often early on. His ability to play off the ball, combined with his size, is what intrigued Mavs fans most about his potential fit, as he would have been able to play with Irving at times as well.

Ball is a good catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter, and his off-ball instincts combined with his cutting and movement would have helped the Mavs' offense continue to run smoothly even when he wasn't running the show. He is also a good decision maker when the ball gets swung to him on the perimeter, as he always seems to make the right pass.

Off-ball movement and connectivity are crucial for role players within the Mavs' offense due to Irving and Anthony Davis commanding so much attention, and now with Flagg joining the mix, the off-ball ability of their role players is going to be under a microscope. Ball would have been able to be a seamless fit in Dallas with and without Irving on the floor, and now he is going to get the chance to contend for a title with the Cavs, while the Mavs will be searching for their starting point guard via free agency.

With Irving signing a team-friendly contract, Dallas now has access to the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception, and it seems like they are going to use that on a player like D'Angelo Russell or Chris Paul. The Mavericks have been heavily linked to Russell over the last few days, and it seems most likely that he is the starting point guard on opening night of the regular season in October.

The Bulls trading Ball for Okoro makes it clear that Chicago was willing to part with Ball without demanding any draft capital, and this should have been a move Dallas was all over. It's clear that a trade for Ball would have come with some risks, as his injury history is well-documented, but it seems like whoever Dallas signs in free agency is going to come with their fair share of risks as well.