Top 10 dream trade targets for the Dallas Mavericks this season

1. Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton's time in Phoenix could be summed up as a roller coaster ride. His ups and downs have simply been too much for a team trying to stay in title contention. Most recently, the Suns almost pulled the trigger on a potential Ayton deal that would have sent him to Dallas for almost pennies on the dollar.

This presumed deal of course never took place, and there is much skepticism about the legitimacy of the package that was announced. For the Mavericks, however, Ayton would become an instant starter and a generational talent next to Doncic and Irving. His time in Phoenix may be rocky, but in Dallas, it would look much different.

In Dallas, you could expect to see the Ayton of old. His ability to catch the ball, no matter the level of coverage, has only been seen by some of the best centers of all time. With Doncic at the helm, he shouldn't expect many bad passes but still, his elite hands would be a plus for an offense that centers around Doncic.

On the defensive end of the ball, we saw Ayton get torched by Nikola Jokic during the second round of the NBA Playoffs. To be fair, Jokic would torch any center in a seven-game series, but against Ayton, he made him look like he never belonged in the league. This however would not be the norm, Ayton's elite size at 7-foot, 250 pounds will make it difficult for any center to get an edge over him.

Offensively alongside Doncic, Ayton would have a legitimate opportunity to be more productive than his time in Phoenix. Doncic has yet to play alongside someone who can create in the post at an elite level, but Ayton would surely change that.

The Phoenix Suns seem to be fully on board with keeping Ayton in their lineup, but this could quickly turn bad, and they may look to ship him out as soon as possible. Dallas could become one of those suiters if they feel desperate enough at the center position.

All ten aforementioned players could be a difference maker in Dallas, but will we see any of them traded to the Mavericks? For more updates on the Dallas Mavericks offseason, stay plugged in.