Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade sparks looming offseason dilemma

The Dallas Mavericks' Anthony Davis trade once seemed like it was all about future financial flexibility, but it has turned into much more than that. The Mavericks will soon have to deal with an offseason dilemma, and it's all about re-signing Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley III, or letting them walk and losing them for nothing.

Middleton and Bagley III have emerged as valuable role players over the last month and a half, and losing either of them could prove to be catastrophic.

They have to decide if they want to re-sign them or not in free agency, and each player has a solid case as to why they should remain in Dallas. The Mavericks are under some serious pressure to improve, as they'll miss the playoffs for the third time in four years this season, and free agency will obviously be crucial for this.

Both players will enter unrestricted free agency, and the Mavericks' decisions here will be among some of their most important choices of the offseason as they try to return to the NBA Playoffs next season.

Khris Middleton is giving the Mavericks exactly what they were missing

Middleton has been one of the biggest surprises since the Davis trade, as his emergence has Mavericks fans begging for the front office to give him a new contract after this season. He decided to remain with Dallas rather than asking for a buyout to play for a contender, giving the Mavericks and their front office the perfect chance to see if he makes sense as a long-term piece next to Cooper Flagg.

In 19 games as a Maverick (10 starts), Middleton is averaging 11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from downtown. His scoring off the dribble, 3-point shooting, and secondary playmaking have proven exactly why Dallas should explore bringing him back.

The Mavericks need all of these things if they hope to build a contender around Flagg, and he seems open to the idea of returning in free agency.

"For sure," Middleton said when asked if he could see himself playing in Dallas after this season. "I love the city of Dallas, I’ve been here before…I’m familiar with Dallas, I love the area. As far as the organization, it’s been great. I stayed here for a reason, I like where things are headed here…I like the way they’re trying to do things here, so we’ll see what happens."

Middleton's return isn't guaranteed by any means, but he at least seems open to the idea. Losing him could cause the Mavericks' scoring punch off the bench to take a serious hit, and Dallas can't afford to have a poor offense once again.

Marvin Bagley III's impact can't go unnoticed

Marvin Bagley III has had a productive stint in Dallas so far as well, and the numbers reveal how well he's played. He's averaging 9.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 58.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from downtown, finally giving the Mavericks a floor-spacing five.

Jason Kidd is pushing Bagley III to shoot at least two threes per game as the season wraps up, and his 3-point shooting, offensive rebounding, and energy have been among the bright spots since he arrived in Dallas. He'd be the perfect third-string big man to play behind Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford next season, and his performance on Saturday night showed how much of an impact he can make when he's at his best.

Bagley III finished with 17 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7-8 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc against the LA Clippers on Saturday night, and his performances as a Maverick are showing teams around the NBA why they should pick him up.

Dallas needs a solid backup center behind Gafford and Lively II, especially given their injury histories, and Bagley III brings exactly what their frontcourt lacks. They need as much spacing as possible around Flagg, and this is becoming a slept-on part of his game.

The Mavericks are entering one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory, and Bagley III and Middleton would both become valuable pieces of the Flagg era if Dallas decides to re-sign them. Middleton's pure scoring and Bagley III's energy and effort have been some of the biggest benefits from the Davis trade, and the Mavericks' choices here will be at the front of fans' minds as the summer approaches.