12 Players the Dallas Mavericks should trade for to improve their defense

7. Jarred Vanderbilt

Getting the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Jarred Vanderbilt during year one of his contract extension could be nearly impossible, but having him in a Dallas Mavericks uniform is something that would thrill fans.

Although he hasn't played all season due to injury, he would be a massive pickup for Dallas and would bolster both their interior and perimeter defense immediately. Last season, Vanderbilt averaged 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

When on the floor, he is an absolute menace on defense, and Dallas needs this type of player desperately.

Vanderbilt can guard four positions at an elite level, and his quickness allows him to stay with the league's best guards and his size and length allows him to compete with some of the best wings in the NBA. We saw Vanderbilt guard both Ja Morant and Stephen Curry in the playoffs last season, showing that he can hang with some of the best guards in the NBA.

Standing at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Vanderbilt is built to be a defensive monster. He can be thrown into any lineup and is more than happy to be on the floor just to play defense.

Offensively, Vanderbilt struggles as a shooter but makes his impact felt in other ways. He hustles on the glass, scores well in transition, and is a good dump-off option.

He isn't one to drop 20 points a night, but his defense and hustle makes him a player that any contender would love to have.