5 Players the Dallas Mavericks should target from Grizzlies after Ja Morant's injury
By Noah Weber
![Jan 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts in the Jan 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts in the](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3872,h_2178,x_0,y_20/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/83/01hkr1q9yg6mfm02tdyq.jpg)
3. Santi Aldama
Both of the previously mentioned players in Marcus Smart and Bismack Biyombo definitely fill places of need for the Dallas Mavericks, but Santi Aldama happens to fill what seems to be the Mavs' No. 1 priority at the deadline, which happens to be at the power forward position.
There have been no rumors that the Grizzlies plan to shop Aldama at the deadline, but the 7-foot forward would be a solid pickup for Dallas.
This season for Memphis, Aldama is averaging 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He has sneakily been having a great season for Memphis, and his skillset is the perfect fit into Dallas' system.
Aldama is a solid shooter off the catch, as he is shooting 34.1 percent from 3-point range this season. Luka Doncic thrives with bigs who can pop, just as he has with Maxi Kleber in years past, and Aldama would be an upgrade over Kleber at this point.
Kleber has only played five games this season due to a dislocated toe, and it's looking as if his best days were behind him. Someone like Aldama would give the Mavs a great backup power forward who can stretch the floor, protect the rim, and make some plays on defense, but it seems that Dallas' eyes could be set higher than that as they have been in trade rumors for Jerami Grant and Pascal Siakam.
If talks for either Siakam or Grant don't progress, Aldama would be a good alternative.