5 takeaways from the 1st half of the Dallas Mavericks regular season

Takeaway from 1st half of Dallas Mavericks regular season: 2. Dallas needs more talent

Luka Doncic is the Mavs offense. He has had the highest usage percentage in the NBA for two straight seasons, and this year, he is setting a new career-high at 38.6 percent. Doncic has been forced to play a career-high 36.9 minutes per game, and Dallas needs their 23-year-old superstar to be otherworldly if they want to have any chance to win.

The Mavericks must put more talent around Luka. They need another ball-handler and playmaker, but more importantly, Dallas must have a second star if they want to become yearly title contenders. Playing an All-Star caliber player off Doncic would make the Mavs even more dangerous.

Fans should not expect massive moves before the trade deadline. The Mavericks owe their 2023 first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade, but after this summer’s draft, Dallas will have a full cupboard to trade. That will be their chance to land a second star and take their roster to another level.

The Mavs will be focused on smaller moves and making marginal improvements before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. If a blockbuster falls into their lap, Dallas will take it, but that is unlikely. The Mavericks will have to settle for marginal upgrades before they go big fish hunting this summer.