Mavericks miss chance to erase glaring flaw as OKC trades Isaiah Joe to Pistons

The Dallas Mavericks didn't add much shooting in the 2026 NBA Draft, and they missed their chance to add one of the best available sharpshooters in the NBA through a trade. Isaiah Joe was a rumored trade candidate for the Oklahoma City Thunder immediately after the season ended, and it doesn't look like Dallas will be acquiring the 6-foot-4 sharpshooter anytime soon. He was sent to the Detroit Pistons in a trade this morning, and the Mavs will have to look for shooting elsewhere.

Dallas should've been all over Isaiah Joe

The price for Joe was just two second-round picks according to ESPN's Shams Charania, and the former Thunder sniper would've been the perfect fit in Dallas. The Mavericks were among the worst shooting teams in the entire NBA last season, as they shot just 34.4 percent from three on 31.9 attempts per game. Both of these figures ranked near the bottom of the league, and Joe looked like one the best answers to their shooting woes.

He averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game for OKC last season while shooting 42.3 percent from three on 6.0 attempts per game. Joe is easily one of the better volume 3-point shooters in the NBA, as his high shot attempts don't affect his efficiency. He has shot above 40 percent from downtown in each of the last four seasons, and he certainly would've helped Dallas get back on track in the shooting department.

The new Detroit Piston rarely passes up open looks, and the Mavs needed a player exactly like him as they try to build a contender around Cooper Flagg. He would immediately have the highest 3-point percentage on the team for players who are under contract for next season, and Dusty May could give him a much bigger role than he had in OKC. This is clearly something he wanted after his role decreased in the playoffs, and Dallas would've been a great place for him.

Shooting is a necessity, and the Mavs' offense will see a dramatic uptick if they can add some 3-point marksmen this summer.

Kyrie Irving's return will obviously help some, but after watching last season, it's clear something has to be done about this for Flagg's sake.

The Mavericks have to do something about their shooting

The shooting around Flagg wasn't good enough for the rookie phenom to reach his full offensive potential, as defenses sold out on his drives knowing that the shooters around him weren't hitting their open shots at a high enough clip. Coop still earned Rookie of the Year and averaged 21.0 points per game, but he could've been even more dominant if the players around him were better shooters and provided consistent spacing.

This is why Isaiah Joe should've been a top trade target for the Mavs. While they don't have much second-round draft capital to send out, they do have a trade exception from the Anthony Davis trade that would've allowed for them to absorb his salary. That's what made Joe such a favorable target, and they could've realistically pursued him.

Joe's presence alone had the chance to help turn their shooting around, but the drought will continue until they get serious about adding some shooting specialists through free agency or a trade. Dallas' new first-round pick, Sergio De Larrea, will help, but not enough reason to justify passing on a deal for one of three players who played at least half of their team's games while shooting at least five threes per game and at least a 42.3 percent clip. That's rare company.

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