Will the Dallas Mavericks trade for Zach LaVine this summer?

The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a run to the Western Conference Finals, but they will be looking to upgrade their roster this offseason. They were the only team in the final four with just one All-Star on their roster. Dallas will continue to build around superstar Luka Doncic, but he needs more help if the Mavericks are going to win their second championship in franchise history.

Rumors will dominate the next five weeks leading into free agency opening on July 1. Dallas will be linked to a host of players as they search for upgrades, and the latest is two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. The Bulls guard was viewed as sold on staying in Chicago just three months ago, but he appears to be available and teams are lining up to bid on him.

Marc Stein detailed (subscription required) the Mavericks thinking about potentially acquiring LaVine, but it is important to remember that they need to convince him to join the Mavericks before agreeing to a sign-and-trade with Chicago.

How can the Dallas Mavericks acquire Zach LaVine this summer?

LaVine is a free agent, but the Mavs do not have cap space. They are projected to be over the luxury tax line without re-signing Jalen Brunson as Luka Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith both have extensions kicking in this summer. The only way they could land LaVine would be a sign-and-trade, and the Bulls would likely be focused on adding role players and a draft pick as they want to contend for a playoff spot next season.

Should the Mavericks target Zach LaVine? Will they try to acquire the 6’5 guard? Here is a look at the case for and against adding the two-time All-Star before diving into the team’s chances of landing him.

Case for the Dallas Mavericks targeting Zach LaVine

It is easy to see why every team would want LaVine on their roster. He is an offensive force that can handle the ball, make plays, and shoot from anywhere on the court. The 27-year-old has scored over 23 points per game for four straight seasons while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 39.2 percent on his threes, and 83.4 percent from the free-throw line.

LaVine would be the perfect offensive complement to Luka Doncic in the backcourt. He shot 46.0 percent on his 176 catch and shoot 3-point attempts this season, while also being able to attack the rim. Dallas could even run some guard-guard pick and rolls with LaVine rolling to the rim for a lob. The Mavs would be impossible to stop because both Doncic and LaVine could bend the defense at a moment’s notice.

Head coach Jason Kidd found the most success playing small in the postseason with four shooters flanking Luka. Adding LaVine gives them another ball-handler and shooter that can play on the wing. He could share the backcourt with Doncic or slide down to the three to make room for another guard.

The Dallas Mavericks would be an unstoppable offensive force if they acquire Zach LaVine, but he may not be the perfect fit.

Case against the Dallas Mavericks targeting Zach LaVine

The Mavs made a massive defensive improvement under head coach Jason Kidd this season, and it was the reason they advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Dallas held the Jazz to 100 or fewer points in four of the six games to win their first playoff series since 2011 before limiting the Suns to their three worst scoring performances of the season over the final five games to win in round two.

LaVine rated as one of the worst defenders in the NBA. He finished 228 of 250 qualified players in FiveThirtyEight’s defensive RAPTOR after rating 207th in 2021. The 6’5 wing has the size and athleticism to at least hold his own on the defensive end, but he will get attacked in the postseason unless massive improvements are made this summer.

Beyond his defense, health and opportunity costs matter here. LaVine is currently recovering from knee surgery, and it is not his first procedure on his knees. In his eight-year NBA career, LaVine has only played in 76.0 percent of the possible regular season contest because of various injuries.

Trading for LaVine also locks Dallas in on a partnership of Doncic and the 6’5 guard for at least two years. Just like when they traded for Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks will be out of the running for other star payers that become available during that window. Is LaVine the ideal partner for Luka or should Dallas incrementally improve their roster this summer in hopes of landing a bigger fish down the line?

Should the Dallas Mavericks target Zach LaVine this offseason?

General manager Nico Harrison and owner Mark Cuban have to do their homework on Zach LaVine. How do they feel about his current recovery and potential to stay healthy long-term? Luka said it after their Game 5 loss to the Warriors, the best ability is availability. Do the Mavs feel strongly about LaVine playing 70-plus regular-season games, something he has not done since 2016, and staying healthy during a deep playoff run?

If LaVine checks the health box, the Mavericks must decide how much he can improve on the defensive end of the floor. Dallas will be trying to cover for Luka’s defense, so having two defenders that can be hunted in the backcourt becomes problematic quickly in the postseason.

Finally, the Dallas Mavericks have to decide if Zach LaVine is the best player they could reasonably acquire over the next three years. Luka Doncic pushed the team to the conference finals this year with an unheralded supporting cast. The Mavs should be searching for a star that pushes them firmly into title contention. They cannot repeat the same mistake they made with Kristaps Porzingis and just jump at the first chance they get to acquire an All-Star.

The Mavericks should let Zach LaVine go elsewhere as they search for another superstar to pair with Luka Doncic to build a perennial title contender in Dallas, but will they?

Will the Dallas Mavericks land Zach LaVine this offseason?

Stein made it clear that the Mavs want a second star, and they are “hopeful of making a significant upgrade at the first opportunity”. Those words should be a bit scary for MFFLs. Yes, Dallas is only a few pieces away from contending for a title, but they need to find the right pieces and not just jump at the chance to acquire the first All-Star that hits the market.

Stars become available every few months, and the Mavericks should be searching for one that makes them surefire title contenders from the moment they acquire him.

It appears Dallas will pursue Zach LaVine this summer, but to what extent is unknown. The 27-year-old unrestricted free agent holds all the cards. He will choose his destination this summer with the Bulls still sitting as favorites to re-sign the 6’5 guard. The Mavericks are in an attractive situation but do not consider them likely to acquire LaVine.

The odds sit around 5 percent that Dallas lands the two-time All-Star. Reports have linked him to the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Atlanta Hawks with other bidders likely emerging as free agency approaches.

It is going to be a wild and important offseason for the Dallas Mavericks. What moves will they make? Can they get closer or jump into title contention? There will be plenty of news, rumors, and analysis, so check back to The Smoking Cuban daily for all the latest.