Rumors: Mavericks show 'great interest' in trading for intriguing young center

The Dallas Mavericks are sitting at 16-9 on the season and third place in the Western Conference.

This has been a great start to the season for Dallas, and they are playing like a team that could make a deep playoff run.

Luka Doncic has consistently been one of the best players in the NBA, Dereck Lively II has been outstanding, and head coach Jason Kidd has led this team phenomenally.

Rumors: Mavericks show 'great interest' in trading for intriguing young center

Dallas put a great supporting cast around Luka and Kyrie Irving, but things have been tough over the last few weeks as the injury bug hit the Mavs hard. Even though they've been winning games, they have been without Irving, Josh Green, and Maxi Kleber, and now Lively II is hurt.

This is not ideal, and Dallas' frontcourt rotation is running thin. One way they could fix that is through the trade market.

According to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the Mavs have shown "great interest" in trading for Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart.

This season for the Pistons, Stewart is averaging 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from downtown. He has started all 25 games this season for the Pistons, and he is an extremely intriguing trade target for Dallas.

The Mavs obviously need a better backup big man, and Stewart could be that and more. He is outstanding in both the pick and pop and pick and roll, and he has continuously improved as a shooter since being in the NBA.

He is also an underrated passer and a good decision-maker. Stewart would thrive coming off the bench in Dallas, and his intensity, grit, and physicality would all be cherished. He isn't afraid of anyone, and the Mavericks need this type of player to come off the bench.

It's unclear what a potential deal for Stewart would look like, but the Mavs would indubitably become a stronger unit by adding Stewart to the bench unit. He is a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell and Richaun Holmes and is only 22 years old. His newly signed contract extension would keep him in Dallas for the extended future and allow him to grow with the current squad.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.