Mavericks-Pistons summer blockbuster opens door for another game-changing trade

Right after the NBA Finals ended last summer, one thing was clear when it came to the Dallas Mavericks and their future.

They were going to try to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. like they had multiple times in the past, but this time they were going to make sure a deal happened. It didn't take long for Dallas to find a trade partner for Hardaway Jr., as they sent him and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Quentin Grimes.

While Hardaway Jr. has had some great moments in Detroit so far, this trade is looking like a major steal in Dallas' favor. Grimes has been one of the most consistent players off the Mavs' bench over the first half of the season, and he is looking like he is someone who is irreplaceable to the team and how it functions.

Now, Dallas is in a position to make another move to upgrade their roster, and their trade with Detroit over the summer laid the foundation for Nico Harrison and the Mavs to work some magic with the Pistons once again. Another thing to remember heading into trade season is that former Mavericks executive Dennis Lindsey is working for the Pistons now, and with how quickly the Hardaway Jr. trade happened after they hired him, we could be in for another blockbuster trade this time around.

Mavericks should use history with Pistons to make a trade for Stewart

The Mavericks are now looking to upgrade their frontcourt ahead of next month's deadline, and one player they could consider is Isaiah Stewart of the Pistons. Dallas showed interest in making a move for Stewart last year, and the perfect opportunity to bring him in is right now.

This season for Detroit, Stewart is averaging 5.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from downtown, and with his role and stats being significantly down from last season, the Mavericks could attempt to buy low on him as he is in the first year of a four-year, $60 million deal with the Pistons.

Dallas is looking for more defense on the trade market, and that happens to be Stewart's calling card. At just 6-foot-8, Stewart is a strong rim protector, and he doesn't back down from anyone. His tenacity, effort, and heart on that end of the floor have often been overlooked because of the handful of brawls that have hurt his reputation over the years, but he is actually an extremely underrated defender who can guard fours and fives effectively.

Stewart is known for being a focused communicator on defense, and that is something that would help him fit right in for the Mavericks. Dereck Lively II is already a great communicator on that end of the floor, and adding one more big-time communicator could take Dallas' defense to the next level. He plays with tons of grit, and these types of players are the ones that are needed in the playoffs.

The Mavericks already have some enforcers on their team, including P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall, and adding one more of this type of player to the mix ahead of the playoff push would add extreme toughness to the roster. While Stewart's brawls from the past would merely be a distraction if they reoccurred if he were traded to the Mavs, one thing is clear, and that is that he will stand up for his teammates no matter what and no matter who is standing in front of him.

Outside of his ferocious defense, Stewart is also an energetic rebounder on both ends of the floor who pursues every ball that comes off the rim despite being undersized as a center. This skill and mindset would be coveted in Dallas, as they occasionally are a team that gets complacent and flat when attacking the glass.

Offensively, we've seen Stewart's role change considerably, as he is no longer playing power forward and mostly playing center. He went from shooting 3.8 threes per game last season to shooting 0.9 threes per game this season, and he is mainly being used as a screener in the pick and roll. He isn't going to be the same type of player in the pick and roll that Dallas has with Lively II and Gafford considering they are both elite lob threats, but he can finish at the rim in certain situations and has a push shot that he likes to bring out.

If the Mavericks were to trade for him, they could allow him to get back to playing power forward, or they could carry the momentum that he has built up in Detroit this season and allow him to continue to play center. Having someone who can switch between playing power forward and center is valuable in today's NBA, and playing with Luka Doncic could help him get his 3-point shooting numbers back up where they need to be due to the quality of looks he'd be getting in Dallas. Maxi Kleber has been invaluable to Dallas over the years for being able to switch on defense and stretch the floor on offense, and Stewart may be an excellent replacement for Kleber if they send him elsewhere like they've been rumored to be thinking about already.

It's unknown what Stewart's current trade value is around the league, but it has been rumored that he could end up being available on the open market. According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the fact that Stewart began a new contract this season combined with him coming off the bench consistently for the first time since his rookie year has led "executives around the league to believe he’ll be available on the trade market."

This is good news for Dallas, especially if they have their eyes on Stewart again, but getting the Pistons to part with him may be challenging considering how well they are playing lately combined with his importance to the team. Harrison is known for always looking to make his team better at the trade deadline, and Stewart could be the missing link for the Mavs to achieve championship glory.