5 increasingly crazy trades Mavericks could make for a starting center

1. Zion Williamson

Did someone say Zion Williamson at the five? We have completely devolved into the world of insanity, as this deal seems completely unrealistic, yet all the moving parts have already been involved in rumors.

Maybe this is cheating because Maxi Kleber could play up and guard opposing centers, but for the purpose of this article, let’s act as if Williamson would be listed as the center.

This would be a huge risk for Dallas, and, as noted, it’s bordering on the line of realism. But if Williamson got healthy, the trio of Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, and the superstar big man would be lethal.

Giving up on Dereck Lively II before he plays a game for the Mavericks might hurt, but getting Williamson and a solid rotation piece in Larry Nance Jr. makes it palatable.

For the New Orleans Pelicans, the time may have come to move on from Williamson. And if they could package him with Dyson Daniels, salary-filler, and two firsts to land Damian Lillard, that would be a huge win.

The trio of Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram would be amazing, and this Pelicans group is better than any team Lillard and McCollum played with in Portland by a long shot.

Lastly, with the new CBA being ushered in, cap flexibility reigns supreme. This deal would give the Portland Trail Blazers just that while also adding two solid youngsters in Daniels and Lively II, three first-round picks, and three first-round pick swaps.

Again, this deal is teetering on the seesaw of realism, and it’s probably teetering the wrong way, but it could actually make some sense for all the teams involved.

Potential starting lineups

Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, Zion Williamson

Pelicans: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Jonas Valanciunas

Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, Dereck Lively II