5 Biggest needs for the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline

The Dallas Mavericks are 26-22 through the first 48 games of the season after Wednesday night's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the time may be now for a move.

The NBA trade deadline is now less than a week away, and the Mavs must make a move if they want to solidify themselves as a top team in the Western Conference.

5 Biggest needs for the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline

The Mavs have been linked to several players on the trade market, including Miles Bridges and Kyle Kuzma, and a trade almost seems guaranteed considering their past endeavors over the past few trade deadlines which include trading for Kyrie Irving last season and trading Kristaps Porzingis in 2022.

Here are the five biggest needs for the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline.

5. A new backup point guard

Even though Jaden Hardy has looked excellent as a playmaker as of late, one of the most overlooked areas of need for the Dallas Mavericks as of late has been the backup point guard spot.

When Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving isn't on the floor, this team's offense has no sense of direction. The team is filled with score-first guards off the bench, and although Dante Exum has proven that he can be a solid facilitator and leader of the bench unit at times, he has been banged up as of late and didn't look the same when he returned from injury.

This isn't a knock on Exum or Hardy by any means, but adding a true point guard who can facilitate, operate in the pick and roll, and effectively lead the second unit is ideal. Trading for this type of player would add another dimension to the Mavs' second unit and ease the pressure off Doncic and Irving.

Doncic has had to play a crazy amount of minutes as of late and Jason Kidd has made it clear that he doesn't want this to continue. With Irving's uncertainty with injuries over the last few months, this area of need could quickly turn into a priority if the Mavs aren't confident that he can play a large majority of the remaining games once he returns from his thumb injury.

4. A new backup center

Although it doesn't seem like it is the Dallas Mavericks' main focus, the team definitely needs to upgrade at the backup center spot.

The Mavs struggle tremendously when Dereck Lively II is out of the lineup or on the bench, and they must add a player who can protect the rim when Lively II is on the bench or out. Dwight Powell and Richaun Holmes are not the answer, but there could be hope in the trade market.

The Mavs have been linked to Daniel Gafford and Isaiah Stewart, and either player would be a massive upgrade over Powell or Holmes. This season for the Pistons, Stewart is averaging 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from 3-point range.

His improvement as a shooter is intriguing, and his energy and physicality could be contagious, but he doesn't have the size that Dallas needs at the center spot. Although he plays bigger than 6-foot-8, having a rim protector with size could be a better move.

Gafford is 6-foot-10, protects the rim, and has great touch in the paint. He is also an excellent offensive rebounder and plays hard. If the Mavs could find a way to land him, they could skyrocket up the standings in the West.

3. A new starting wing

With the first two items on this list being upgrades off the bench, the first potential starting upgrade that the Dallas Mavericks can consider is at the wing spot. The Mavs have three confirmed starters in Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and Dereck Lively II, but the other two spots are up in the air.

Dallas needs to upgrade on the wing, and they have been linked to several wings, including Andrew Wiggins and Royce O'Neale, and either player would immediately elevate the Mavs' defense. O'Neale is a great perimeter defender and shooter off the catch, while Wiggins is also a great defender but can score off the dribble.

Wiggins would give the Mavs their defensive stopper of the future, and they could also likely land him on a cheap deal. He could get moved in a player-for-player deal, and the Mavericks could offer them a package that includes Tim Hardaway Jr., considering that they have reportedly been shopping him.

The Mavs' need for wing depth has been clear ever since Dorian Finney-Smith left, and both O'Neale and Wiggins would be great additions. Both players don't seem expensive, as it was recently reported that O'Neale could get moved for a few second-round picks, and the Mavs have a few that they can trade along with salary filler.

2. A new starting power forward

As mentioned in the previous slide, the Dallas Mavericks have holes at both the starting power forward and small forward spots. They don't necessarily need to make a move for both positions, but their priority at the trade deadline since the start has seemed to be upgrading at the power forward spot.

This has easily been the weakest point on the Mavs' roster, as the only true power forwards on the roster are Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Williams has significantly underperformed since his hot shooting streak from the beginning of the season ended, Kleber has been a major disappointment, and Prosper has been bouncing back and forth to the G League.

They have no reliability at this position, and the trade market is the best way to address this.

Dallas' most likely targets at the power forward position seem like Kyle Kuzma and P.J. Washington, and either player would help the Mavs and their need for more size. If the Mavs want another go-to scorer, they can consider a move for Kuzma. If they want a defensive-minded four who can play some small-ball five, they should trade for Washington.

Either player would be great fits, and only time will tell if Dallas will make a move for one of them. Kuzma's asking price could also be going down, and the Mavs are a team that could chase him while including their 2027 first-round pick.

1. To get healthy

This need for the Dallas Mavericks can't be addressed by any type of trade, but the main weakness of the team this season has been their health. Any time that it seems like the team could be fully healthy, another injury happens.

Every main player on this roster has missed time with injuries, and Kyrie Irving has had the worst luck of all, as he has suffered two freak injuries. The first injury happened because Dwight Powell fell onto his leg, causing a heel contusion. The second freak injury was when he sprained his thumb.

Josh Green, Luka Doncic, Grant Williams, Derrick Jones Jr., Dante Exum, and Maxi Kleber have also missed time. The Mavs would have likely won at least a handful more games if they had been able to stay fully healthy, and the All-Star break is coming at the perfect time.

Dereck Lively II recently broke his nose, and considering his importance to the team, fans are hopeful that his recovery is speedy.

It's unclear who the Mavs are targeting the hardest, but one thing is for sure. If the Mavs make a relatively big move while also getting healthy, they could be a team that contends in the Western Conference.

For all the latest news and rumors on the Dallas Mavericks as the trade deadline quickly approaches, stay tuned.