Grade the Trade: Mavs land All-Defensive First Team guard in mock trade with Bulls
By Noah Weber
The Dallas Mavericks have made considerable changes to their roster this summer, and they look like a completely different team from last year.
Their biggest needs this summer were a new starting center, wing depth, and youth. We can safely say that they added two of those three needs in wing depth and youth.
On the wing, they added Grant Williams and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, two players under the age of 25 who will immediately be able to guard multiple positions.
When it comes to youth, they added three rookies in Dereck Lively II, Prosper, and Mike Miles Jr. (signed to a two-way contract). But when it comes to starting center, the Mavericks still don't have one.
They drafted Lively II, and he should be able to become the starting center in a few years and they traded for Richaun Holmes, but it is unclear at this point if either center will start this season. They could even start Dwight Powell again.
The Mavs are reportedly "content" with their center rotation if they aren't able to land one through a trade, but they could still look to add more depth on the wing. They've reportedly been interested in Kelly Oubre Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. as of late, but no moves have happened yet.
In this upcoming mock trade, the Mavericks land a player who can guard multiple positions, knock down open shots, and throw down emphatic dunks, but they would lose a fan-favorite guard.
Here's a look at a trade between the Mavs and Bulls that helps both teams improve.