5 Dallas Mavericks players whose roles aren't safe after the trade deadline

The Dallas Mavericks are rolling since the trade deadline.

The Mavs have won their last six games after last night's win over the San Antonio Spurs, and new trade additions P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford have been great fits.

Both players address needs that Dallas had, and fans should be happy about the direction of the team as the final stretch of the season approaches.

5 Dallas Mavericks players whose roles aren't safe after the trade deadline

Although Dallas did a great job at the trade deadline, some players' roles aren't safe. The Mavs brought in two players who have the potential to start, and the look of the squad is vastly different, even though they only made two moves.

Here are five players on the Dallas Mavericks whose roles aren't safe after the 2024 NBA trade deadline.

5. Derrick Jones Jr.

To start the season, Derrick Jones Jr. was on fire for the Dallas Mavericks. He was a 40 percent 3-point shooter, was getting to the cup with ease, and defended at a high level.

Jones Jr. was the best perimeter defender on the Mavs, and his 3-point shooting took a massive step up by playing next to Luka Doncic. He was getting the most open looks of his career and was letting it fly with confidence. Dallas was the first place that showed this much confidence in Jones Jr. as a shooter, but his numbers have come down to earth over the last few months.

Jones Jr.'s average shooting, combined with the addition of Washington, could lead to a lessened role for him. We've already seen his role shrink since Washington was traded here, as he is no longer a starter, and he only played for 12 minutes against the Washington Wizards.

Jones Jr. looks like he won't play as much with Washington on the roster, but he will still be called upon due to his defense.

4. Dwight Powell

Dallas Mavericks center Dwight Powell did not touch the floor in Dallas' win over the Washington Wizards, and Dereck Lively II didn't even play in that game.

Now that Dallas has Lively II and Daniel Gafford as options at the five spot, it seems that Powell's role will diminish tremendously. Maxi Kleber has also been playing the five, but the addition of Gafford could allow him to switch back to his true position at power forward. Kleber is capable of playing the five and has played well as of late, but switching him to power forward could help unlock his full potential.

Considering that Lively II was out of the lineup with an injury before Dallas traded for Gafford, Powell's role will diminish even more once Lively II returns. Lively II being out allowed Powell to play more, and he was rebounding well and playing better.

Since the trade, Powell has only played SIX minutes and looks like a non-factor. Powell will continue to be a great locker room presence and bring energy to the bench, but it doesn't look like fans will get to see him on a nightly basis as they have since the 2014-15 season.

Powell has the skills to receive spot minutes, but Dallas adding a better backup big man was crucial.

3. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Even before the trade deadline, Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper was receiving little to no playing time. He was bouncing around between the Texas Legends and the Mavs, and although he has shown some bright spots throughout his rookie year, he isn't panning out as quickly as many people thought.

Now with the addition of P.J. Washington, Prosper will likely play even less. Not to mention, Maxi Kleber has also taken huge strides in his game as of late and is fully healthy. Washington provides Dallas with a strong power forward who can defend, and that is the mold that Prosper was in for Dallas.

When Prosper steps into the game, he always brings great energy and defense, and the sky is the limit for him. His size, length, energy, defense, and attitude are all things that can help the Mavs, but the depth of the current roster has caused him to fall out of the rotation.

Dallas didn't deal Prosper at the deadline, and he appears to be in their long-term plans, but it may take a few years for him to break the rotation. The Mavs will have to find a good balance of giving him some run while also prioritizing winning, as it is hard for players to fully develop while on the bench.

2. Markieff Morris

Before the 2024 NBA trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks were extremely small. Dallas had little to no positional size in their rotation. The Mavs needed size on the wing, and that's exactly what they went out and got.

Dallas traded for P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets, and although he is a true power forward, he offers much more versatility than Grant Williams did. He gives the Mavs someone who can play three through five and is the most versatile player on the roster.

Before the trade for Washington, Dallas relied on other players for size in the frontcourt. One of those players was Markieff Morris.

Although Morris' minutes have been inconsistent all season long, there have been stretches when he has been in the rotation. In the month of December, Morris played 10.8 minutes per game. Morris has only played in four games since the new year, and now his role will likely shrink anymore due to the trade deadline.

Unless it's a blowout, Dallas will likely look elsewhere for minutes at the four spot. Morris re-signing last summer seemed like a puzzling move at the time, but he remains a good locker room presence for Dallas. If Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., or Maxi Kleber misses time, then maybe Morris could return to the lineup.

1. Dereck Lively II

By no means is this saying that Dereck Lively II's role won't be prominent for the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the season. Lively II is Dallas' center of the future and had a magnificent return against the San Antonio Spurs last night.

But his role could look different.

In Lively II's return, he was on a minutes restriction, and Daniel Gafford started for the second-straight game. Both of Dallas' bigs had solid games, and due to the addition of Gafford, the Mavs won't have to rely on Lively II so much.

The Mavs' winning at the beginning of the season directly correlated to whether Lively II was playing, and now they don't have that problem. The starting center spot is Lively II's to lose, but Jason Kidd could have a tough choice to make if Gafford continues to play at a high level.

It seems extremely unlikely that Lively II will lose his starting spot at any point this season, but Kidd has made it clear that all decisions regarding the lineup are all business. Kidd is going to put the best lineup possible on the floor, regardless of whether that is Gafford or Lively II.

Fans should be excited that Dallas has two excellent centers now, and Lively II will thrive in whatever role that Kidd assigns him.

For all the latest on Jason Kidd, Dereck Lively II, and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.