Should Dallas Mavericks trade 1st round picks to add a playmaker?

The Dallas Mavericks want to upgrade their roster before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. They need more talent around Luka Doncic to be true title contenders whether he is pressuring the front office to makes moves or not. The 23-year-old superstar and owner Mark Cuban both denied that rumor, but it does not change the state of their roster.

Things are complicated on the trade front. Losing Jalen Brunson left the Mavericks one playmaker short, but that is not the only hole in their current roster. Dallas has multiple mid-sized contracts to trade, but they owe their 2023 first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade. The top ten protection on it prevents Dallas from trading their first-rounder in 2025.

Do the Mavs put their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks on the table to try to add a playmaker before the deadline? Here is a look at the pros and the cons of doing that before trying to reach a verdict.

Pros of Dallas Mavericks trading 1st round picks for a playmaker

The Mavs were in the conference finals last season, and they made a push late in the year after trading for Spencer Dinwiddie. The deadline day deal gave Dallas three playmakers and helped them diversify their offense. Acquiring an instant upgrade before this year's deadline gives them a chance to make another deep playoff run.

The Mavericks are currently fifth in the Western Conference and just 2.5 games out of the top three. Dallas could have home court in a first-round playoff series and be favored to win if they trade a first-round draft pick for a playmaker.

Upgrading at the trade deadline should keep Luka Doncic happy in the short term. The 23-year-old superstar is ultra-competitive. He wants to win right now, but trading a first-round pick could prevent the Dallas Mavericks from becoming true title contenders.