5 Backup centers the Dallas Mavericks should trade for

The Dallas Mavericks struggled to keep afloat this week as the team recently suffered losses to the Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, and Houston Rockets. Injuries and defense have been the main concern.

Two weeks ago, Dallas lost Kyrie Irving when he suffered a right heel contusion. Irving got hurt after teammate Dwight Powell landed awkwardly on his leg.

However, Irving's injury was just the beginning of the team's problems. Last week, Dereck Lively II suffered a left ankle sprain against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Mavs rookie was coming down for a rebound when he landed on the defender's foot.

5 Backup centers the Dallas Mavericks should trade for

Lively II and Irving are just the latest players to be added to the injury list, as Maxi Kleber and Josh Green have also been out.

Injuries have created a ripple effect for Dallas as the team has struggled without their two centers, Kleber and Lively II. Teams have had no problem scoring inside. Against the Clippers, Dallas allowed 60 points inside the paint.

The same problem occurred against the Nuggets when Dallas too allowed 60 points inside.

So, what's the issue?

Well, for starters, the Mavs seem to have no replacement for when Lively II is out. The team's defensive rating drops whenever the rookie is off the court. This translates to their struggles at the rim.

One solution might be trading for a backup center. It's obvious Dallas needs someone to come off the bench and replicate some of the things Lively II can do.

Here are five centers the Mavs should trade for.

5. Marvin Bagley III

One center Dallas should turn their attention to is Detroit Pistons' center Marvin Bagley III. The Sacramento Kings drafted Bagley III with the No. 2 pick during the 2018 NBA Draft, one spot ahead of All-Star Luka Doncic.

At 6-foot-10, he can play both the power forward and center position. He has averaged 13 points per game and 6.9 rebounds in six seasons while shooting 51 percent from the field. His best season came during his rookie year when he dropped 14.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds.

He would be an excellent complement to Dereck Lively II. Like the Dallas rookie, he excels at scoring at the rim. Bagley III does most of his damage down low, as he can clean up his teammates' misses or use a fancy hook shot to score.

The Pistons' forward would be a compliment to Luka Doncic. as he does an excellent job in pick-and-roll opportunities.

In the video above you can see how he is able to move to the open spot and score inside.

Defensively, he is a hit-or-miss. Bagley III has improved his rotation defense but struggles in man-to-man situations.

If Dallas were to trade for Bagley III, it would be risky. However, he would be an upgrade from any of the team's backup centers.