New Mavericks trade proposal gifts them perfect chance to dump disappointing veteran

For the 2025-26 season, the Dallas Mavericks are eager to return to being a top playoff team after the disastrous 2024-25 season in which Dallas missed the playoffs altogether after making the 2024 NBA Finals in the season prior.

This preseason, all eyes have been on first overall pick Cooper Flagg, and he has delivered for the Mavericks. Flagg recorded 10 points in under 15 minutes in his preseason debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Not many people are thinking about the trade deadline right now, as it is still months away, but a new projected trade from Bleacher Report involving the Mavericks was created if the deadline was before the season opener, and it's one the Mavericks could find too good to pass up.

Mavericks upgrade their defense and playmaking with this mock move

Recently, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey wrote an article titled "1 Trade Every Team Would Make If The Deadline Was Before 2025-26 Season." Bailey's trade involving the Mavericks would be to trade Caleb Martin and a 2030 second-round draft pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kyle Anderson.

"The Dallas Mavericks could use a bit more playmaking while they wait for the return of Kyrie Irving from his torn ACL," Bailey said about Anderson.

Dallas will be waiting to begin the season with Irving sidelined due to a torn ACL. The Mavericks signed guard D'Angelo Russell to make sure the team has steady play at guard while Irving recovers, but Russell has unfortunately shown inconsistency in the past. That makes Anderson a veteran option for the Mavericks at 32 years old.

Anderson will soon embark on a new journey this season in Utah after being traded over this offseason. Last season, it was a struggle for Anderson playing for the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat. Anderson averaged under six points per game combined last season, but has shown in the past that he can be a quality player off the bench who can drain threes, and can be used as a spot starter if needed.

Trading away Martin is something that may need to be considered for the Mavericks after his 14 games played last season. Martin became unplayable and a concern with his poor 3-point shooting and getting few minutes from head coach Jason Kidd, as he was constantly injured and unproductive.

For their careers, Anderson has averaged more steals and blocks per game than Martin. Anderson's career 106.2 defensive rating is better than Martin's 113.1 career defensive rating, and the eye test could favor Anderson as well. His length and versatility would be valued in Dallas, as he can defend multiple positions and would give the Mavs more positional size. Bailey was critical of his reasoning for Anderson's defense, and rightfully so.

"He also brings the added benefit of defensive versatility to whatever team he's on," Bailey said. "And if there's one thing Dallas general manager Nico Harrison has made clear over the last eight months, it's that "defense wins championships.""

Anderson's contract also isn't awful in the grand scheme of things. Anderson has two years remaining with a cap hit under $10 million per year, and he would be a productive frontcourt option off the bench.

Giving up a second-round pick to get off of Martin would be a risky move, as they traded a second-round pick to acquire him, but his inability to stay on the floor has reached a breaking point in Dallas, and he may not even be good enough to receive a real role in Jason Kidd's rotation thanks to the depth they have.

Trade projections and rumors will be floating around this season involving the Mavericks, and Anderson could end up being someone that Harrison targets. With Martin's constant injuries and inconsistent 3-point shooting, it may be time to move on, and someone like Anderson could be their missing piece as they push for their second title in franchise history.