5 Trade deadline moves that would boost Mavericks, 5 they must avoid

6. Boost: Flipping Tim Hardaway Jr. for someone who can play both ends of the floor

The last statement from the last slide brings me to my next point.

The Dallas Mavericks trading Tim Hardaway Jr. would be a tough pill to swallow, as his offense and 3-point shooting have been essential for this team during some points of the season, but his inconsistency and lack of defense hurt the Mavs.

Hardaway Jr. typically has a great game or produces an absolute stinker. This lack of consistency hurts Dallas, as you never know what you're going to get out of him.

Apart from his inconsistency, Hardaway Jr. also struggles defensively. Even though he has become one of the best charge-takers in the NBA, Hardaway Jr. can't be relied upon to be a defensive stopper. Just like anyone, Hardaway Jr. has shown flashes of being a capable defender when he is playing with energy and effort, but the Mavs need to find someone who can play both ends of the floor. If Hardaway Jr. is missing his shots, he provides little impact for Dallas.

As mentioned earlier, Quentin Grimes and Bruce Brown are two players to keep an eye on for the Mavs. Making a move for one of them makes sense, especially if Dallas moves Hardaway Jr., but things could get interesting if they add another guard while keeping Hardaway Jr.