NBA star alludes to Mavericks making trade for one more piece

Lorenzo Almanza

Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks / Richard Rodriguez/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks have struggled over the past two weeks. Dallas has gone 2-4 in six games, as it recently lost two straight at home. The injury bug has also hit Dallas hard, as some reports were flying yesterday that Josh Green will miss extended time.

The team's most recent defeat was a 126-120 defeat on Saturday night. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavs made a historic 30-run in the fourth quarter. However, the Thunder would complete an 8-0 run in the final seconds to help secure a victory.

Dallas now sits tied with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns for fifth in the Western Conference. The Mavs' next three games include matchups against teams below .500.

NBA star alludes to Mavericks making trade for one more piece

So, just how good can Luka Doncic and the Mavs become? Is it possible they could be a top-three team in the West? What might Dallas be missing?

One NBA player gave his input on the team. Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma shared his thoughts on Dallas when doing a Q&A on Twitter.

Player away. Lively will be good too https://t.co/Ko3eOTXqQG
— kuz (@kylekuzma) December 5, 2023

In his first comment, Kuzma mentions how the Mavs are one player away from being contenders. What might he mean by this? Could he be talking about himself or another defensive asset?

Either way, Kuzma isn't the first NBA player to make that statement about Dallas. Brian Scalabrine joined the DFW radio station 105.3 two years ago to discuss his outlook on the Mavericks. During his interview, he mentioned how Dallas is "still one guy away from (winning) an NBA championship."

Although Scalabrine's interview was two years ago, both players might be onto something. During the offseason, the Mavs' main focus was upgrading their center position and adding depth at the wing.

The team did the first by drafting Dereck Lively II. The Mavs' rookie has been a valuable asset for Dallas, as he averages 8.6 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. He is also the team's leading offensive-rebounder.

Kuzma mentioned Lively II in his tweet. He described how he believes the Dallas rookie will continue to dominate.

In recent NBA rookie rankings, Lively II dropped to 7th. Lively II had his best game of the season Saturday when he went 9-9 from the field. Against the Thunder, he had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and seven blocks.

So, its safe to say Kuzma could be right when discussing Lively II's outlook.

As for the first comment, its possible Dallas might be a piece away. Look for the team to try and upgrade their roster during the trade deadline. Could a wing option be in the works?

For all the latest on the Dereck Lively II and the Mavs, stay tuned.

Lorenzo Almanza

Lorenzo Almanza is a contributing writer for the Smoking Cuban where he has been covering the Dallas Mavericks since their infamous playoff run during the 2023-24 season. He currently holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Texas State University and has used his platform to expand sports coverage to various audiences. His previous work has been featured on big networks such as Sports Illustrated and USA Today. He also writes for a Latino magazine, as he transcribes/writes features about famous and successful Latinos. Lorenzo is a reporter for the Irving Rambler, where he does coverage for the Northwest side of Dallas. In his spare time, he loves playing NBA 2K, teaching, and spending quality time with his wife and cat.