7 realistic trades the Dallas Mavericks should make for a starting center

The Dallas Mavericks center carousel has been spinning for almost ten years, and it's still spinning.

Ever since Tyson Chandler left for the second time, the Mavs haven't been able to find a true starting center. They've experimented with Deandre Jordan for a year, started Dwight Powell for 243 games, and even started Andrew Bogut, Nerlens Noel, and Zaza Pachuila.

None of these starting centers are good enough to start on an NBA Finals-winning team, and the Mavs have to take this position more seriously this summer.

7 realistic trades the Dallas Mavericks can make for a starting center

As of right now, the Mavs have four centers on their roster. They have Powell, JaVale McGee, Dereck Lively II, and Richaun Holmes. They have been in some trade talks for players like Clint Capela and Deandre Ayton, but the talks fell through. It looks like the Mavs are trying to land a starting as there have been multiple trade rumors this offseason, but things just haven't gone their way on the trade market.

While they do seem to be looking, the Mavs are fine if they roll with the group they have. They are "content" with the centers that are on their roster right now, and Powell would likely start at center if the roster remains the way that it is right now.

This is not ideal, as we've seen how the past few seasons have gone with Powell starting at center, but it may be the best option they have. Holmes and Lively II could also challenge Powell for that starting spot, but Powell knows the system better than anyone and has great chemistry with Luka Doncic. He isn't built to be a starting center in the NBA, but he has been the best Dallas has had in the past few years.

Here are seven trades that give the Mavs a new starting center as they try to make an NBA Finals push next season.

7. Dallas Mavericks hop in a James Harden trade to acquire Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles Clippers

It seems like James Harden is more likely to get traded by the day, and the Dallas Mavericks should take advantage of this by helping the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers facilitate a trade.

The trade would be hard for the two teams to make work on their own, and the Mavericks benefit tremendously from helping make this trade work.

**Sign-and-trade: Dallas' Christian Wood signs three-year, $15 million contract with Philadelphia

In this move, the Mavericks land their new starting center in Ivica Zubac while only trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and JaVale McGee. Dallas also sends Christian Wood in this deal, but the 76ers would have to agree to terms with Wood as part of the sign and trade. Wood started his career in Philadelphia, and maybe the 76ers want to bring him back on a discounted deal while his value is low.

Hardaway Jr. and McGee are two players that the Mavs already seem to want to trade, and this James Harden trade would be the perfect chance to make it happen. They help the money work for both sides, and both players would have a chance to play on their respective teams. Hardaway Jr. would likely play heavy minutes in Philadelphia, but you get the point.

While Zubac would be the Mavs' new starting center, Dallas also lands Marcus Morris Sr. He would give the Mavs more frontcourt depth and give them a veteran who has started in 45 playoff games.

Zubac doesn't fit the Mavs perfectly as he isn't a lob catcher and isn't the best switch defender, but he is a massive upgrade from anyone they have now. He is a great scorer in the paint and would give the Mavs a player that can consistently post a double-double.

6. Dallas Mavericks revisit Deandre Ayton trade talks, and Phoenix ups the ante

The Dallas Mavericks were reportedly in talks with the Phoenix Suns on draft night in regards to landing Deandre Ayton in a trade. Although the details of the trade aren't confirmed, there have been rumors that it was Richaun Holmes, Tim Hardaway Jr., and JaVale McGee for Ayton.

Phoenix reportedly didn't want McGee in this deal, and Dallas possibly could have gotten the deal done if they pulled him from the deal. But they didn't and now will probably end up waving him anyway.

In this proposed deal, the Mavs offer the Suns a better deal than the one from draft night and see if they can land Ayton.

This trade offer is much better than the one from draft night as the Suns get future draft capital along with two players that will play heavy rotation minutes. The Suns could also get Dallas to include McGee in the trade if they want center depth, but they didn't want him on draft night and probably don't want him now.

This trade gives the Mavs one of the best bigs they've had in an extremely long time in Ayton and allows them to shed Hardaway Jr.'s contract. Dallas signed Seth Curry this summer, Jaden Hardy looks like he could be a star one day, and Dallas should move Hardaway Jr. to free up some minutes for those two.

Although losing Maxi Kleber would hurt, including him in this deal could convince the Suns to make the deal. Dallas has Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Grant Williams now, two players that can help this loss be not as severe, and they should make this move for an elite big like Ayton while they have the chance.

Ayton averaged 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game for the Suns last season. He would have the chance to be the third star next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and making a trade for him wouldn't be a bad idea.

The Mavs could also consider adding another second-round pick into this trade to sweeten the deal, but this trade could possibly get it done as the Suns desperately need more depth. Dallas has been in trade rumors for Ayton multiple times this offseason, and Dallas turns these rumors into a reality with this trade.

5. Dallas Mavericks help facilitate Pascal Siakam blockbuster, land Clint Capela

Teams trading for star players with massive contracts such as Pascal Siakam is hard to do, and in this scenario, the Mavericks help the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors work out a trade as the third team.

In this trade, the Mavericks land Clint Capela and give up Tim Hardaway Jr., JaVale McGee, and two second-round picks. This is a steep price for Capela, as Dallas just acquired those picks from the Grant Williams sign-and-trade, but they could decide to be aggressive and use them in this trade.

Last season in Atlanta, Capela averaged 12.0 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. He would be a great pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and fits the mold of what Dallas needs in a center. He blocks shots, rolls to the rim, and doesn't need a lot of touches in offense.

Capela would be a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell or Richaun Holmes, but the Mavs would likely have to be a third team involved to make a trade for him. A three-team trade seems more likely for Dallas to land Capela, and Dallas is reportedly hoping that the Hawks and Raptors engage in a trade so the Mavs can get Capela.

Hardaway Jr. and McGee would help the Hawks and Raptors make the money work, and the Mavs' improved center room after the trade would be Capela, Holmes, Powell, and Dereck Lively II.

Capela has been another target linked to the Mavs in trade rumors, and getting him with this deal would be a bargain for Dallas.

4. Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls pull off double sign-and-trade that sends Andre Drummond to Dallas

Andre Drummond reportedly wanted to sign with the Mavericks if he opted out of his contract with the Bulls according to Marc Stein (subscription required), and in this trade, the Mavs land him.

**Sign-and-trade: Dallas' Christain Wood agrees to a three-year, $15 million contract in order to be traded to Chicago

**Sign-and-trade: Chicago's Ayo Dosunmu agrees to a three-year, $16 million contract in order to be traded to Dallas

This trade is similar to a deal originally proposed recently by Bleacher Report that sends Caruso to the Mavs, but it also turns into a double sign-and-trade as the Bulls land Christian Wood while Dallas lands Ayo Dosunmu.

Along with Dosunmu and Caruso, the Mavs get a slight upgrade at starting center in Drummond. Last season for the Bulls, he averaged 6.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in just 12.7 minutes per game. He isn't a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell or Richaun Holmes, but he would be a good big to start until Dereck Lively II is ready to start.

One part of this trade that would be hard is losing Jaden Hardy.

Hardy is a potential future star in the making and is an outstanding scorer, but this offer may be too good for Dallas to pass up. Dosunmu would be the backup point guard that can guard multiple positions, and Caruso would be the Mavs' best on-ball defender.

In all reality, the Mavs only lose one rotation piece in this trade in Hardy. Wood was never going to be back in the first place, and McGee will be waived if not traded this offseason.

Since the Bulls are reportedly interested in Wood, this trade may be doable. The Bulls also land a young guard with All-Star potential in Hardy, and he will be a great piece for Chicago to build around for years to come.

3. Dallas Mavericks help Pascal Siakam get to Indiana, land Myles Turner

Myles Turner is often a name that Mavs fans throw out regarding a center that they should pursue, and they finally get their wish as he comes to Dallas in this three-team blockbuster.

The Raptors are known for hardballing when it comes to trading their players, and this deal generously compensates them for their star power forward, Pascal Siakam.

In this deal, Indiana sends out a haul for Siakam as they send Buddy Hield, Andrew Nembhard, and two first-round picks to the Raptors. They also send Myles Turner to Dallas. To get Turner, the Mavs have to give up more than they may be comfortable with. They send Maxi Kleber, Tim Hardaway Jr., and a second-round pick to the Raptors and JaVale McGee to the Pacers.

While the Mavs do give up two players that are big parts of what they do, they gain one of the most underrated centers in the NBA in Turner.

Last season for Indiana, he averaged 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. This was the most healthy Turner has been in a few years, and it was one of his best seasons on the court. He is also under contract for two more seasons and lines up with Dallas' timeline of winning right now.

Turner would be a great stretch big in Dallas that can also roll to the rim and protect the rim. He would fit great next to Luka Doncic and give the Mavs someone who can anchor their defense for years to come.

2. Dallas Mavericks trade for Bojan Bogdanovic and young center from Detroit Pistons

It's no secret that the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to Bojan Bogdanovic. He was most recently rumored to be in part of trade talks that would have sent Tim Hardaway Jr. and JaVale McGee to Detroit, but the talks trade through. In this mock scenario, the Mavs revisit the talks with the Pistons while landing a young starting center.

**Dallas would have to wait until September 4 to trade Richaun Holmes.

In this trade, the Mavericks upgrade at center and wing and give up the two second-round picks that were acquired from the Grant Williams trade. If the Mavericks could make this deal, they would be set for the future at center with Wiseman and Dereck Lively II. They would also add another offensive weapon in Bogdanovic.

This may not be enough value for the Mavs to acquire Wiseman, but Detroit did just sign Isaiah Stewart to an extension, and Jalen Duren looks like he will have a promising NBA career. If they decide to move on from Wiseman's expiring contract, the Mavs could look to trade for him.

In 24 games for the Pistons last season, Wiseman averaged 12.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. He showed huge improvement once he got traded from the Warriors, and could be ready to start on a playoff team.

Wiseman doesn't exactly fit the mold of what the Mavs look for in a center, but his youth and potential could intrigue them enough to make a similar move.

1. Dallas Mavericks trade for Jarrett Allen, give up young assets

Jarrett Allen is a name that is often thrown around in mock trade proposals, as the Cavs are "more open" (subscription required) to trading him at some point than originally reported, according to Marc Stein. In this mock trade, the Mavericks give up two of their most valuable assets to land the 1-time All-Star center in Dallas.

This trade is likely more than what the Mavericks would like to give up for Allen, but the on-court fit next to Luka Doncic and the length of the contract (three years) is too perfect to pass up.

Allen averaged 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game last season for the Cavs. In this deal, the Mavs undoubtedly land their center of the future in Allen and a defensive-minded wing in Okoro.

Allen would be a great pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic, and he is one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA. The on-court fit of Allen in Dallas would be seamless, and the front office should consider making a trade for him.

While the main piece in this trade is Allen, the Mavs also land an elite wing defender in Isaac Okoro. He averaged 6.4 points and 0.7 steals per game last season, and his shot looks like it's coming along, as he shot 36.3 percent from three last season.

This trade would likely upset some fans as they lose Josh Green and the 2027 first-round pick that they are being "incredibly cautious" with, but it could be worth it to land a star like Allen.