3 Dallas Mavericks needs ahead of the 2023 trade deadline

The Dallas Mavericks have found their stride after an uneven start to the season. They have rebounded from 9-10 to sit fourth in the Western Conference on the morning of Jan. 13. Dallas has won nine of their last 12, despite missing multiple rotation players in every game. Superstar Luka Doncic has been otherworldly during that stretch, but the front office must get him more help if they want to be true title contenders.

The NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline is rapidly approaching and the rumor mill is just starting to heat up. Dallas has already been linked to multiple players, including Zach LaVine and Bojan Bogdanovic. The Mavs must make moves if they want to go on another deep playoff run, but what do they need?

Even when healthy, Dallas must upgrade their roster to become true title contenders. Their defense has slipped outside the top 20, and they are the worst rebounding team in the NBA right now, so here are three needs that the Mavericks must address before the 2023 trade deadline.

Dallas Maverick need before the 2023 trade deadline: 3. Center upgrade

The Mavs started Dwight Powell during last season’s run to the conference finals, but Maxi Kleber played the majority of the minutes at the five. It allowed Dallas to go small, space the floor, and have a more switchable defense, but it left them struggling to rebound and protect the rim. The front office added JaVale McGee and Christian Wood in the offseason to improve in those areas, but it has not worked out.

McGee was promised a starting role, but that lasted just seven games before he was played off the floor. The veteran big man has struggled in the Mavericks' defensive scheme, and he has completely fallen out of the rotation.

Christian Wood has been fantastic in Dallas, but he still struggles on defense. The block numbers have picked up since he moved into the starting lineup, but the Mavs still allow way too many easy buckets, and they rank dead last in rebounds per game.

The Dallas Mavericks need to acquire a center upgrade that can be their defensive anchor and improve their rebounding, especially with Maxi Kleber set to miss extended time., but that is far from the team’s lone need as the deadline approaches.

Dallas Maverick need before the 2023 trade deadline: 2. 3-and-D wing

The Mavs reached the conference finals last season on the back of their defense. They held the Utah Jazz to 100 or fewer points in four of the six games in the first round of the playoffs after finishing seventh in defensive rating during the regular season. Dallas then limited the Suns to their three lowest-scoring games of the season in the second round to reach the final four.

Head coach Jason Kidd has preached defense since getting hired, and the Mavs made an impressive turnaround last season, but they are struggling in year two. Dallas currently ranks 22nd in defensive rating, which is a far cry from last season’s mark.

Injuries have played a role. Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Green are three of the team’s best defenders, and they have all been out since mid-December. Every team in the league’s defense would slip without three of its best options.

More troubling has been the defensive struggles of Reggie Bullock. Head coach Jason Kidd barely took him off the floor in the playoffs because of his defense. Bullock formed a strong perimeter duo with Dorian Finney-Smith that was shutting down the best the West had to offer. This season, Bullock has struggled to find that form, and it has resulted in him moving to the bench. The 6'6 wing is not bringing it on either end of the floor, and the Mavs need more if he is going to stay in the postseason rotation.

The Dallas Mavericks need another 3-and-D wing before the trade deadline. Someone that can guard on the perimeter and knock down open shots. When Doe-Doe and Green return, the Mavs will improve, but they need another option if they want to be able to play like a top-ten defense down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Dallas Maverick need before the 2023 trade deadline: 1. Playmaker

The moment that it was clear that Jalen Brunson intended to sign with the New York Knicks in free agency, the Mavs needed another ball-handler and playmaker. After trading for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dallas played almost exclusively with two creators on the floor, but they had just two left on the roster after Brunson’s departure.

The Mavericks tried multiple low-cost options as their third point guard. Facundo Campazzo struggled to earn playing time, and Kemba Walker showed flashes but was unable to stay healthy. Dallas needs a legitimate third option that can help bail the team out when the opposition doubles and blitzes Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks were in the same position heading into last year’s trade deadline before they bought low on Dinwiddie, and their front office should be looking to make a similar move. Dallas finding a low-cost playmaker that could blossom playing off Luka Doncic would be massive. It will be interesting to see who is available and if the Mavs can pull off the trade before Feb. 9.

Fans should expect to hear the Dallas Mavericks linked to nearly every player that hits the rumor mill ahead of the trade deadline. They want to improve their talent around Luka Doncic, but what will the front office get done? Stay tuned to find out.