10 Way-too-early 2024 trade deadline candidates Mavericks should monitor

The Dallas Mavericks made significant improvements around their two stars this offseason. They got younger and more athletic, while significantly upgrading their defense, but Dallas may not be done.

The Mavs entered the offseason needing a center upgrade (subscription required). They were the worst rebounding team in the NBA last season and struggled to protect the rim. Dallas drafted Dereck Lively II in the lottery, traded for Richaun Holmes, and re-signed Dwight Powell, but none of those moves addressed their issues. Lively II needs time to develop, and Holmes wasn’t in the Kings rotation last season.

A center upgrade is atop the Mavs priority list entering the season, and general manager Nico Harrison will be active and aggressive. The trade deadline is less than five months away, but who might be available?

Way-too-early 2024 trade deadline candidates Dallas Mavericks should monitor

10. Jonas Valanciunas

The Pelicans want a center upgrade but have not found the right deal. Valanciunas is on an expiring contract, so New Orleans has a decision to make before the deadline. If JV is not part of their long-term future, the Pels should explore his value on the trade market.

Valanciunas is far from the perfect fit in Dallas. He is an elite rebounder that can space the floor. JV is a career 35.7 percent 3-point shooter over 541 attempts, but he struggles to protect the rim and cannot defend in space. The Mavs would have to build their defense around him and figure out how to cover for his deficiencies.

Valanciunas is a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell, and the Dallas Mavericks' interest could rise if their center woes continue. What if Dereck Lively II isn't ready for the rotation or Holmes doesn’t bounce back? Dallas may be looking for any available option.

In the ideal scenario, the Pelicans find a center upgrade and are willing to move on for a small return. Dallas does not have a ton of trade assets, so they hope a big man becomes available in their price range.

9. Dorian Finney-Smith

The longtime Maverick was sent to Brooklyn in the Kyrie Irving deal, but the Nets have shopped him this summer. Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson are locked in as their starters on the wing, which leaves Doe-Doe fighting with Ben Simmons and Royce O’Neale for minutes. Brooklyn tried to clear their logjam this summer, but they did not find a suitable deal.

If Simmons is healthy and finds his form, the Nets will make a trade at some point. O’Neale and Finney-Smith won't be happy playing 25 minutes per game, and Brooklyn will use them to upgrade at a position of need.

The Mavericks would love to have Doe-Doe back. The 6’7 wing will guard any player on the floor and does not need the ball in his hands. He shot 38.9 percent from 3-point range in his final three years in Dallas, and the 3-and-D wing knows how to maximize his contributions around Luka Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks love Dorian Finney-Smith and were sad to see him go. If they can get him back at a reasonable price, the front office will certainly consider it before the trade deadline. Doe-Doe could form a dominant defensive forward duo with Grant Williams that could help the Mavs make a deep playoff run.

8. Royce O’Neale

The Brooklyn Nets are worth watching this season. They focused on acquiring wing depth when breaking up their Big 3. Now, the Nets have more options than minutes and may not be in playoff contention. They hope Mikal Bridges becomes an All-Star, but even that may not be enough. If Brooklyn is out of race, O’Neale will be on the block.

The 6’4 wing is set to make $9.4 million in the final year of his contract. The Nets gave up a first-round pick to acquire him during the 2022 offseason and have no reason to sell low. His playmaking took a step forward last season as he averaged 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.9 steals in 31.7 minutes per game. O’Neale is extension-eligible, but Brooklyn will certainly shop him at the deadline if they cannot agree on a long-term deal.

Teams cannot have too many 3-and-D wings. O’Neale shot 38.9 percent from long range in each of the last two seasons and can guard multiple positions. The Dallas Mavericks would love to pair him with Grant Williams to improving their defense. It was key in their run to the conference finals in 2022, and Dallas is just one wing away from replicating it.

The Mavs are light on assets, so acquiring a rental will not be top of the priority list. The fit is there, and Dallas should inquire if Royce O’Neale becomes available. His price tag will be lower than Dorian Finney-Smith's and could be in the Mavericks' price range.

7. Ivica Zubac

The Clippers made Zubac available this offseason as they look to reshape their roster. The 26-year-old has been their starting center for each of the last two years. He blocked a career-high 1.3 shots per game last season and should just be entering his prime.

Zubac is an elite rebounder that cashes in easy buckets. He has shot over 60 percent from the field for four straight seasons and narrowly missed averaging double-digit rebounds per game in 2023.

Zubac would instantly solve the Mavericks' woes on the glass, but it would not be a perfect fit. The seven-footer struggles defending in space as Dallas supports saw when Luka Doncic continually attacked that switch in the 2021 playoffs. Zubac earned a career-high 28.6 minutes per game last season, but can be played off the floor in certain matchups and struggles with foul issues.

Ivica Zubac is a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell, and the Dallas Mavericks have options if the opposition goes small. Maxi Kleber or Grant Williams can slide down to the five to better matchup. Zubac is just entering his prime, and Dallas could get his best seasons as he is under contract until the summer of 2025.

Will the LA Clippers keep him on the market through the deadline? It will likely depend on the team’s health and early season performance, which makes them a team to watch.

6. DeMar DeRozan

DeRozan is playing the best basketball of his career. The six-time All-Star averaged 24.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 36.2 minutes per game last season as he shot 50.4 percent from the field. The 34-year-old is unstoppable in the mid-range and has dropped over 20 points per game for ten straight years.

The 6’6 wing is entering the final year of his contract, and the Bulls are at a crossroads. Lonzo Ball is already out for the season, and Zach LaVine is back in the rumors. If Chicago decides to move on LaVine, DeRozan will almost certainly be traded before February’s deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks need another combo forward as they do not have a true small forward on their roster. Grant Williams is primarily a four. Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, and Seth Curry are best at the two. Dallas could look to add someone with size before the deadline, but DeRozan is not the perfect fit.

Dallas would again be trading one first-round pick and two second-rounders for the expiring contract of an All-Star. That is a bold move, but the Mavericks could try to make a deep postseason run with a Big 3. Their defense would be questionable, and DeRozan’s scoring would be a bit muted by the Mavs' current stars. Still, the deal is worth exploring if the six-time All-Star becomes available.

5. Bojan Bogdanovic

The Mavs have been linked to Bogdanovic for years, but no deal has materialized. Detroit is hoping to exit their rebuild and get into the playoffs. If they are out of the race, the 6’7 forward could be on the trade block before the deadline. Bogdanovic has just $2 million guaranteed for next season, and the 34-year-old might be eager to join a contender.

The 6’7 forward would give Dallas some size, versatility, scoring, and floor spacing on the wing. He averaged 21.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 32.1 minutes per game last season in Detroit and played a key role for the Jazz in the playoffs in 2022. Bogey was Utah’s primary option to defend Luka Doncic, and the Mavs need that defensive versatility.

The price tag coupled with his age are concerns for Dallas. The Pistons want at least one first-round pick in return. The Mavs have their 2027 first to offer, but they cannot protect it. Dallas does not want to give it up only to fall into the lottery that year.

Bojan Bogdanovic will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline if the Pistons are headed toward the lottery, and fans can expect to hear the Dallas Mavericks mentioned amongst the interested teams even if he winds up somewhere else.

4. Deandre Ayton

The Suns traded for Bradley Beal this offseason and revamped their roster with minimum signings. Ayton was on the block, but Phoenix could not find a suitable deal. The former number-one overall pick is coming off a disappointing season but has immense potential.

Can he improve significantly under new head coach Frank Vogel? If not, Ayton could be back on the block ahead of the trade deadline.

The Mavs have been interested in the 6’11 big man for years. He shares an agent with Luka Doncic and offers upside and athleticism. Dallas’ front office values both traits and believes head coach Jason Kidd and his staff can bring the best out of the 25-year-old.

Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game last season. He would instantly solve the Mavs rebounding woes, but they would need his rim protection to improve to be the perfect fit.

The 25-year-old still has untapped potential and the desire to be a larger part of the offense. With Beal joining Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Ayton will be the fourth option at best in Phoenix. Does that lead to a trade request? The Dallas Mavericks will be watching and waiting in the early going.

3. Clint Capela

The Mavericks want Capela. They tried to trade back in the 2023 draft to acquire him and have offered multiple packages this offseason. So far, there is no traction between the two sides, but that could change quickly.

The Hawks are eager to upgrade their roster and are rumored to be interested in Pascal Siakam. If Atlanta trades for a third star, they will have to deal De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela to make the salary matching work. The Raptors won’t want Capela after signing Jakob Poeltl this offseason, which necessitates a third team.

The Mavs would love to get in on that deal. They have Tim Hardaway Jr. to match the salary and two second-round picks that could sweeten the trade for either side. Atlanta wants to create more playing time for Onyeka Okongwu, so they will have no issues letting Capela go at a discount if they get a significant upgrade elsewhere.

Clint Capela is the perfect center for the Dallas Mavericks. He is an outstanding pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic along with being a strong rebounder and rim protector. Capela is an underrated defender in space that could help the Mavs make another playoff run. Dallas is just waiting for the price to come down.

2. Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers finished fourth in the Eastern Conference last season but were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. It left Cleveland questioning how their roster will perform in the postseason. They have two undersized guards and two big men. The Cavs improved on the wing this summer, but was it enough?

Allen could become available as Cleveland looks to play Evan Mobley at the five. They won't give away the former All-Star, but he could be shipped out in a larger trade that improves their roster. Allen accepted a smaller role last season, but the 25-year-old will have plenty of suitors if he becomes available.

Fro is the perfect fit for the Mavericks. He averaged 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game last season. Allen is an elite rebounder that protects the rim and thrives in the pick-and-roll. He won't complain about touches and is happy helping his team win games.

The Dallas Mavericks' biggest issue would be finding the assets to acquire him. Jarrett Allen is just entering his prime and is already an elite starting center. He defends better than most big men in space and could make a massive impact playing with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. One first-round pick and two seconds is unlikely to be enough to get a deal done, but it is worth exploring.

1. Myles Turner

Turner is a fixture in trade rumors, and the Mavericks would love to bring the 6’11 big man back home. The 27-year-old has two years left on his contract, and the Pacers hope to move into contention. Turner could be on the block because Indiana will struggle to crack the top ten in the East.

Former Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle loves Turner, and the Pacers put a high price tag on acquiring him. Indiana has no interest in taking a significant step backward, so they will hold onto Turner if they do not get what they want.

Would an unprotected first-round pick and two seconders be enough? Turner is in the middle of his prime and just averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He solves Dallas’ two biggest issues, so do not be surprised if the Mavericks shoot their shot. It may not be enough, but that will depend on how Turner and the Pacers perform before the deadline.

The Dallas Mavericks want to upgrade their roster, but are waiting for the right move. Can they find a new starting center before the trade deadline passes? It is the key to improving their defense and making a deep playoff run, but won’t be easy. Stay tuned to see what Nico Harrison and the front office can do.