Mavericks gifted perfect recruiting pitch from dream summer trade target

The Dallas Mavericks surmised yet another balanced offensive attack in the second game of a home-and-home on the road versus the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday evening, but unfortunately Dallas couldn't overcome a more stringent defensive effort by the Spurs compared to their Monday night contest.

Seven out of the nine players that suited up for the Mavericks scored in double figures, as Dallas' role players have become more comfortable at creating their own offense with no Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving in the lineup anymore this season. However, Spurs center Bismack Biyombo really derailed Dallas' attacks on drives as well as their ability to hang on the glass during the second and third quarters given the Mavericks' lack of rim protection, and the Mavericks couldn't keep up in the second half, ultimately falling by a score of 126-116.

Despite being at 33-34 and the 10th seed in the Western Conference, the Mavericks still have a fair chance at making the playoffs this season due to how unlikely it is that the Phoenix Suns eclipse them in the standings given the Suns' remaining strength of schedule. While a play-in game or first round matchup could invigorate a little life into the city of Dallas and the organization, it goes without saying that this season was a lost cause the literal second it was announced Irving tore his ACL, and now Dallas' championship window has been shifted to after this season.

Keldon Johnson would be the perfect fit in Dallas

Even with Doncic gone, this Mavericks team is poised to be competitive next season if they can stay fully healthy and Irving returns at a decent date, so Nico Harrison and the front office ought to do anything they can to improve Dallas' roster this summer. After trading Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin, Dallas got a slightly more bigger-bodied wing in return with less guard skills via Martin, but the Mavericks could look to address adding another point-of-attack defending guard with offensive versatility this coming offseason.

One of the best options Dallas could seek for this archetype of player would be none other than a player who has given the Mavericks an excellent sales pitch over the past two games versus the Spurs, that player being Keldon Johnson. At 25 years old, Johnson hasn't even entered his prime yet, and there were rumors San Antonio was primed to move on from him this past trade deadline given the ascension of Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell.

Johnson is set to make $17.5 million next season, which makes mixing and matching salaries to attain his services not the most difficult task in the world, as he has a slightly larger than mid-tier deal. Dallas also likely wouldn't have to give up a ton of draft capital to get him, if any, depending on the package, as Johnson having a down year from beyond the arc at 32.9 percent this season seems to have stunted his trade value some.

Johnson hasn't started for the Spurs all season long and is averaging the lowest amount of minutes per game since his rookie season at 23.7, and he's proven to be a better shooter in seasons past on far higher volume compared to the amount he is shooting now. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Johnson has elite size and athleticism for a two-guard, and those intangibles carry over to his perimeter defense and his finishing ability tremendously.

It goes without question that Johnson is the perfect high-motor type of player that Harrison wants to foster Dallas' culture on, and this can be evidenced by multiple plays over the past two games versus Dallas where he's made some spectacular saves on loose balls defensively. And even though it doesn't seem like Johnson's production will ever scale to being a primary scorer, he averaged 22 points per game for the Spurs in his age-23 season through 63 starts, and he is an elite finisher with a dynamic mid-range/in-between game.

In his past two games versus the Mavericks, Johnson has averaged 23 points and five rebounds off 68 percent shooting from the field, which is something to note considering the Mavericks have shown a slight tendency to trade for players who've played well against them in the past.

With Irving out of the lineup for a decent portion of next season at the very least, Dallas could use a bigger guard with Johnson's skillset on both ends even if a player like Brandon Williams stays on Dallas' roster and takes a leap next season, and former Kentucky Wildcat teammate P.J. Washington would likely help ease Johnson's transition to Dallas and help him get acclimated with the team if Harrison decided to make this move.