Report: Mavericks looking to trade back in NBA Draft, 25-year-old labeled target

The Dallas Mavericks need all hands on deck this summer as they attempt to atone for their failures from this past season, as they missed out on the postseason entirely, not even making it into the Play-In Tournament.

As they attempt to do that, the most valuable asset they have in their arsenal is the 10th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which they are reportedly looking to trade for win-now help.

There’s always a chance that Dallas makes the selection, as this year’s draft class is supposed to be loaded with talent, but according to a recent report, they are instead looking to trade back and also add a veteran in the process.

Report: Mavericks looking to trade back in 2023 NBA Draft, John Collins labeled as potential target

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Mavericks are “considering options” to move back into the middle of the first round.

Fischer also provided an example of a potential trade, mentioning that the Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks have discussed a trade that would send pick 10 and Davis Bertans to Atlanta for John Collins and pick 15.

Collins has been thrown around in trade rumors for a few years now, and with the Hawks’ current cap situation, they could be looking to get off his long-term money, especially considering the state of the new CBA coming into place.

Adding Collins’ athleticism and three-point stroke, which wasn’t as effective this past year, could be a valuable asset for Dallas, who would pair him alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

The Hawks are the only team Fischer specifically mentioned in his reporting, but they were merely an example. A look at this year’s draft order reveals a plethora of potential trade partners that would make sense.

At pick 16 sit the Utah Jazz, who Fischer reported have been looking to trade up in the draft. Guys like Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson could be of interest as veteran rotation pieces.

Another team to look out for could be the Brooklyn Nets, who the Mavericks struck a deal with at this past trade deadline, landing Kyrie Irving for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and picks.

The Nets own picks 21 and 22 in the 2023 NBA Draft. Could the Mavericks get Finney-Smith back or add a guy like Royce O’Neale? Would Brooklyn be interested in Davis Bertans and pick 10 for one of those guys and one or both of their late-first-rounders?

Needless to say, there will be plenty of options available to the Mavericks, and if they play their cards right, they could not only add a nice veteran by trading the 10th pick, but they could also still bring in a rookie to develop.