Dallas Mavericks' 'top 3 trade targets' heading into pivotal 2024-25 season

1. Gary Payton II

After losing Derrick Jones Jr. to the LA Clippers in the offseason, the Mavs' point-of-attack defense is going to be tested right away. Combine that with the fact that Dante Exum is out for a few months after undergoing wrist surgery, and Dallas is limited with good guard defenders.

Quentin Grimes is expected to be elite on that end and Naji Marshall can guard down when needed, but the Mavs may need one more defensive stopper who can guard the best guards in the NBA off the bench.

Gary Payton II is one of the better guard defenders in the NBA, and he would become one of Dallas' best defensive stoppers right away. Last season for the Golden State Warriors, Payton II averaged 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from downtown. Payton II is excellent when he's on the floor, but his injury history is worrisome. He has only played 66 games over the last two seasons combined and is already 31 years old.

Despite the concerns with his injuries, Payton II would be a great fit off the bench for Dallas. He is an excellent on-ball defender and is always looking for a steal, and his off-ball instincts are also great.

Even though he is only 6-foot-2, his 6-foot-8 wingspan helps make up for that. His motor and energy allow him to full-court press often, and he takes pride in being an elite defender.

Outside of his defensive dominance, Payton II is also a decent scorer in transition and an excellent athlete. He has been a great backside lob threat in Golden State in transition and as an off-ball cutter, and this would make him an excellent fit in Dallas playing next to Luka Doncic.

Payton II is a low-volume 3-point shooter as he only averaged 1.3 attempts per game last season, but he did shoot 36.4 percent on these shots. He would get plenty of open looks from downtown playing in Dallas, but his main draw is his defense.