5 Mavericks who aren't safe from being moved after shocking Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks and Nico Harrison shocked the sports world on Saturday night as they traded Luka Doncic, Maxi, Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.

Not only was Doncic thought to be Dallas' franchise superstar, but Harrison traded away the five-time First Team All-NBA guard without consulting Jason Kidd or any other Mavericks front office member.

While Dallas' return package for Doncic was nothing compared to his career accomplishments at the age of 25, Davis does bring to the table a ferocious defender who can block shots on one end and spread the floor on the other. As a Laker, Davis was easily their best player this season and even helped lead a struggling Laker squad to a fifth seed before being traded.

5 Mavericks who could be moved after the Doncic trade

There's no doubt that Davis has a better opportunity of winning a championship given his role in Dallas than he has over the past few seasons in LA but Harrison would be doing Davis and the Mavs a disservice if he didn't make another trade. Without Doncic, the Mavericks have a few glaring holes in their roster they must address but it may mean trading more fan-favorite players to achieve this goal.

Dallas is looking to upgrade their roster ahead of the trade deadline, and we could likely see some movement over the next few days.

5. Dwight Powell

Many fans didn't expect Dwight Powell to be the last remaining Maverick from their 2022 Western Conference playoff run, but then again, many fans didn't expect Doncic to be traded in the middle of the season. While Powell has served as a locker room leader, his time in Dallas could be coming to an end.

Powell is currently in the second year of a three-year, $12 million deal that he signed in the summer of 2023 to stay in Dallas. While Powell hasn't been the on-court product he once was, his contract and respectability around the league may be enough for a team to want to be included in a trade for a bigger player.

Powell's contract makes him the perfect sweetener if the two teams needed a salary matcher given the $4 million a year he is making.

4. Quentin Grimes

Quentin Grimes has been a standout role player since joining Dallas in the offseason after a trade with the Detroit Pistons. With this in mind, he may be the perfect name to include in a trade if the Mavericks are serious about upgrading their roster in areas of weakness.

It's no secret the Mavs need guard help after trading Doncic but Grimes' playstyle is one the Mavericks could be willing to send away in exchange for a playmaking guard. In addition to Grimes' offensive playstyle, he may be a name some contending teams would want to take a shot on given his background of playing for winning teams.

Grimes is surely not at the top of any list for fans to trade right away, but if Dallas wants to make another blockbuster deal, Grimes may be a name worth including in a bigger trade package as he is on an expiring contract and is a major difference maker on both ends of the floor.

3. Jaden Hardy

After trading Doncic, the Mavericks have sent a clear message to the league that their window for winning championships is within the next 3-4 years. Given this information, waiting on a player's development may not be what the Mavericks have in sight when it comes to Jaden Hardy.

Hardy fits the archetype of guard Dallas currently needs but not the timeline that they need. Hardy would not only be the perfect sweetener for any upcoming Mavs trade, but his recent on-court product shows he can score the ball at an elite rate when given the minutes.

It would be another tough pill to swallow for Mavericks fans to see Hardy leave, but the Mavericks don't have the luxury of waiting around to see what Hardy's professional career could look like after trading Doncic.

2. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

In a similar vein as Hardy, Olivier-Maxence Prosper could be in the same boat as young players who could be sweeteners for a bigger trade. Prosper has progressed in many departments as a second-year pro but again, this is time the Mavericks don't have.

Trading Prosper would likely be a bigger deal given his rookie contract, but the second-year pro could serve as the perfect swing player in a trade for another team to pull the trigger on.

Prosper has become a fan favorite throughout his Mavericks tenure but after the Doncic trade, the Mavs likely have another idea in mind for Prosper and his career.

1. Daniel Gafford

As difficult as it may seem, Gafford's time spent in Dallas could end in the next few days. Gafford has been nothing short of brilliant this season after Dereck Lively II went down with a scary ankle injury but with Davis' acquisition, it may spell bad news for Gafford.

With Lively II being the clear center of the future in Dallas, the Mavericks have an opportunity to mold Lively II into an All-NBA caliber big alongside Davis. While Gafford has played at an all-time level over the last month, his one-dimensionality on offense makes him a very potential target to be traded in the coming days.