Dallas Mavericks: Lauri Markkanen and Kristaps Porzingis would be a defensive nightmare for the Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks rumors continue to swirl. Front and center is a sign-and-trade with the Chicago Bulls involving Lauri Markkanen. The price? Reportedly Maxi Kleber, whom the Bulls are interested in.

Markkanen is a promising young player who holds career averages of 15.6 points and 7.1 boards per game. Best of all, the 24-year-old restricted free agent expressed interest in playing in Dallas alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

So while the 2020-2021 season may have seen a little bit of a dip in his production, it’s not out of the question to believe he could be a viable weapon for the new-look Mavericks if the two teams can swing a deal.

Why the Dallas Mavericks acquiring Lauri Markkanen makes sense

Markkanen shot over 40 percent from three last season, which in and of itself makes him an intriguing addition for the Mavs as they look to surround star Luka Doncic with as much floor spacing as
possible. That Markkanen also shot 48.0 percent from the field and posted an effective field goal percentage of over 59 percent put the icing on the cake.

The loss of Maxi Kleber in such a trade would sting. Not only is he a fan favorite, but Kleber has grown so much over his four-year NBA career. That said, he is going on 30-years-old and, despite shooting over 41 percent from three last season, the forward vanished over the final three games of the first-round playoff loss to the LA Clippers.
In the past, he’s been a versatile defender, capable of guarding Kawhi Leonard for long stretches as Dallas fell in successive years to LA in six games and then seven.

In short, Kleber isn’t likely to ascend much higher if at all beyond the player he is today, and that makes his value significant when potentially acquiring a promising player like Markkanen.

Dallas Mavericks would struggle to make Lauri Markkanen and Kristaps Porzingis fit

The problem for Dallas, however, is the fit of a new-look frontcourt featuring Kristaps Porzingis and Markkanen. Neither is especially good at defending the perimeter, and both have serious deficiencies on the defensive end that force their teams to game plan around their weaknesses.

As such, the pairing, while presenting great offensive firepower and range, would struggle to anchor the Maverick defense, a struggle made all the greater by the loss of Kleber in the acquisition of Markkanen. Defense, don’t forget, is a significant area of need for the Mavericks. The offense has not been a problem, nor should fans expect it to be with Doncic at the helm.

There’s also the matter of Markkanen’s health. Four years into his NBA career, the Finnish sharpshooter has averaged just over 55 games per year and just 51 games over the past three seasons. He’s never appeared in more than 68 games in a given season, which is something that, for all of his own health concerns, Kristaps Porzingis can at least say. Over his five years of action spanning six calendar years, Porzingis has averaged 57.2 games played per season and just 50 per year as a Maverick.

As such, a frontcourt that cannot defend and cannot be counted on to stay healthy isn’t necessarily the most tantalizing prospect for a team looking to take the next step.

Acquiring Lauri Markkanen is a risky move for the Dallas Mavericks

No one doubts Markkanen’s scoring ability. More than just a 3-point shooter, he can score off the dribble and spot up in the mid-range with deadly marksmanship. He holds a career-high of 35 points, which he’s tallied twice in his young career, and he’s nabbed 19 rebounds in a game. While Chicago opted to bring him off the bench in about half of his appearances last season, his scoring dip was marginal when compared to his career average.

It’s entirely possible that Markkanen could elevate his game in a way Kleber was never truly able to with Doncic, but would the offensive production be able to offset the express lane Dallas’s frontcourt would grant opposing players to the rim? More so, would the pair even appear in enough games together to truly benefit from the mismatch they would present teams?

Dallas is reportedly interested in signing Markkanen at around $15M per season, but are believed to be reluctant to part with Kleber or offer up the 1st round pick the Bulls are seeking, thereby maintaining the stalemate.

While Markkanen’s fit alongside Porzingis is a troubling one, and frankly his health is equally concerning, the name of the game is talent acquisition, and Markkanen is an unmistakable talent. That Dallas could presumably acquire him for a declining, if still beloved, Maxi Kleber is a major opportunity that doesn’t come along often.

If Dallas were to part with Kleber in a different trade sometime in the future, it’s doubtful they would do so in exchange for a player of Markkanen’s caliber or age. As such, it’s a deal the Mavs should take now with the determination that they will figure out the fit later.

Worst case scenario, if Markkanen doesn’t work out in the long-term in Dallas alongside Porzingis, the Mavs have some built-in flexibility due to the redundancy their skillsets offer the team, and $15M per year stings a whole lot less than an average of $33.33M over the next three seasons. Food for thought.