Finney-Smith's harsh Lakers reality would've disappeared with Mavericks' help

The Dallas Mavericks' season has gone south, as injuries pile up. The team missed seven players against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Players such as Naji Marshall, Jaden Hardy, Dwight Powell, and Klay Thompson all missed the game, and they were desperately missed. Dallas lost to Minnesota by one point. It's crystal clear that missing players has taken a toll on the team.

One major player who was absent on Wednesday was Dereck Lively II. Lively II has been out since last week with a right ankle sprain. However, further testing reported that Lively II suffered a fracture in his ankle, which is expected to keep him out for at least the next month. This is a major blow, as Dallas is desperate for frontcourt help.

Lively II's injury also likely dismisses the motion that Dallas could trade Daniel Gafford. Gafford has been a pivotal part of the Mavs' starting lineup this January. He has scored a double-double in three of his last four games. If Dallas were to trade Gafford, it would cause an unavoidable paint problem. Simply put, the Mavs must keep Gafford at all costs. His paint dominance will be critical if the team hopes to turn things around.

Finney-Smith's recent struggles would be nonexistent in Dallas

Former Dallas Maverick Dorian Finney-Smith would have been another valuable asset to the team during their string of injuries. Like Gafford, he can play solid defense. Finney-Smith isn't afraid to use his body to make things difficult on whoever he is guarding. He is a rotating defender and scorer capable of playing/guarding multiple positions.

If you recall, Finney-Smith had some of his best years in Dallas. For example, during the 2021-22 season, he averaged a career-high 11 points per game and 1.1 steals. His efforts on both ends stood out. Finney-Smith's presence played a major role in helping the Mavs advance to the Western Conference Finals.

However, Finney-Smith's success has been quieter with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since being traded to the Lakers, he has dealt with injuries, minute restrictions, and various struggles. For starters, Finney-Smith has been dealing with an ankle injury dating back to his time in Brooklyn. Last month, he suffered a left calf contusion and sprained ankle with the Nets. This has hindered his ability to play at a high level, as he continues to deal with the injury.

Finney-Smith's minutes have been slightly down recently compared to when he first got to Los Angeles. For example, against Dallas earlier this month, Finney-Smith played 28 minutes, as he showed off against his former team. Against the Mavs, he scored 11 points, while shooting 75 percent from the 3-point line. He proved to Dallas why they should've traded for him.

Yet, since the Dallas game, Finney-Smith has averaged 21.3 minutes per game. This is a drastic decrease from two weeks ago.

One final harsh reality for Finney-Smith is the Lakers' recent struggle with winning games. The team has gone 4-4 since trading for the former Maverick. They have had stretches of three-game losing streaks and two-game winning streaks. This level of inconsistency has also been a difficult reality.

Now, it's hard to argue that Dallas has had a better January. The Mavs too are struggling this month, as injuries and late-game struggles have hurt the team. However, Finney-Smith's recent struggles would not be much of a problem in Dallas.

The Mavs are in desperate need of a 3-and-D wing. Finney-Smith would have been the perfect candidate to fill the void. His past success with the team and defensive attributes make him a perfect candidate for the role. Dallas would also find a clear role for him. He would be a perfect candidate to play behind Klay Thompson or P.J. Washington. It's hard to imagine his recent struggles would be an issue with the Mavs.

Dallas could make their dreams of having Finney-Smith back a reality. He is expected to become a free agent this summer and could be a strong candidate to come to the team. Why not bring him home and help overcome some of his struggles with the Lakers?

This isn't to say that Finney-Smith's defense hasn't been great, and he is still getting adjusted to his role, but he would have likely gotten more minutes and more shots if he came to Dallas. The Mavericks were among teams that showed interest in Finney-Smith last month, and their search for perimeter defense and frontcourt depth will continue into the trade deadline.