10 Free agents who should be on the Dallas Mavericks' summer wish list

8. Royce O'Neale

Royce O'Neale is someone who the Dallas Mavericks reportedly showed trade interest in earlier this season, but he ended up getting traded to the Phoenix Suns.

O'Neale is someone who Mavs fans know all too well, as he was part of the Utah Jazz when they played the Mavs in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. He spent time guarding Luka Doncic, and he was going at Jalen Brunson in one of the games. O'Neale is someone who isn't afraid to play with physicality, and he would be a great fit on the Mavs.

This season, O'Neale is averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 37 percent from downtown. O'Neale is someone who could take Tim Hardaway Jr.'s minutes if Dallas trades him as they were expected to do last summer, allowing Jaden Hardy to gain more of a role.

O'Neale could take the toughest defensive assignment on the floor while being a consistent 3-point shooter off the catch. Dallas doesn't need to add a third star. They need to add more elite role players, and O'Neale could be that and more for the Mavs.

Mavs fans could get to see plenty of O'Neale down the stretch as the Mavs and Suns could meet in the playoffs, and this could be the perfect dress rehearsal for Nico Harrisson to pursue him this summer.