5 Offseason trades that make the Dallas Mavericks title contenders

4. DeMar DeRozan

Adding DeMar DeRozan into the mix may not be a perfect fit, but it would give the Dallas Mavericks some extra star power and another scoring option to help take the load off of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

DeRozan’s ability to score in the mid-range would help make defenses think twice, and defenders wouldn’t be able to lurk off of Doncic and Irving, as leaving DeRozan open would be a huge mistake.

Defensively, this doesn’t help the Mavericks improve a ton, but DeRozan isn’t a negative defender, either. If anything, he’s a better defender than Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davis Bertans.

In addition, this deal would help the Mavericks get off of Hardaway Jr.’s and Bertans’ contracts one year earlier. That’s part of the reason they’d pay a first-round pick.

For the Chicago Bulls, this deal would signal a much-needed rebuild. Lonzo Ball’s injury has affected things, but regardless, it’s clear that their current core isn’t capable of competing for a championship.

Neither Hardaway Jr. nor Bertans would be a long-term piece for them, but at the very least, the former could net them an extra first or second at some point in the future. That being said, Jaden Hardy would be a nice young player to take a chance on.

Plus, they would be banking on the potential idea that the Mavericks’ current core doesn’t last long, meaning their first would become more valuable.