5 Just-traded players the Dallas Mavericks should've snagged themselves

2. Cameron Payne

Cameron Payne would have been a solid fit as a creator off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks, but he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Payne would have fit exactly what the Mavs need, and he happens to be quietly having a great season.

He has made his impact felt in Philadelphia so far, as he is averaging 13 points, two rebounds, six assists, and one steal per game. Payne has already started a game in Philadelphia as well and could be someone who the Mavs could have gotten for cheap.

The Mavs' former needs of landing a backup center as well as some frontcourt depth were much more pressing than their need for a backup point guard, and now they are forced to address this need on the buyout market. It is unclear who Dallas intends to pursue after missing out on Spencer Dinwiddie, but it remains a need for the team.

Payne would have been a good fit on the Mavs when he wasn't sharing the floor with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but things would have gotten interesting when he was playing with one of them. Payne can play some off the ball, but he is undersized. He would never play the one when sharing the floor with Luka, and when sharing the floor with Kyrie, they would have been way too small.

Payne could have been an intriguing trade target for Dallas, but the Mavs' next backup point guard may need to fit a different mold.