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

Should the Dallas Mavericks trade 1st round picks for a playmaker before the deadline?

The Mavs must make sure that Luka Doncic is onboard with whatever plan the front office enacts before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. That is the first and most important thing for Dallas.

The Mavericks' front office faces a difficult decision, but they should look back at what worked last season. Yes, they had Kristaps Porzingis to trade, but ultimately, Dallas bought low on Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. That trade propelled the Mavericks to the conference finals, and a similar move will be available before the deadline. One of the 30 teams will be looking to dump a playmaker, and Dallas should be looking to capitalize.

The Mavs should only trade a first-round pick if they can acquire a potential All-Star. If Dallas can find Luka’s co-star, trading their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks becomes a no-brainer. It allows the team to win now and build a title challenger around Doncic for the foreseeable future.

Short of finding that move, Dallas should use their two second-round picks to make small upgrades and save their first-rounders for a summer blockbuster. The Mavericks need to get Luka Doncic a co-star, and one will certainly be available this offseason.

What will the Dallas Mavericks do before the Feb. 9 trade deadline? The front office has crucial decisions to make that will shape the future of the franchise. Stay tuned to see how it all plays out.