5 trades for Dallas Mavericks to land a starting power forward

5. Lauri Markkanen

This deal would be a massive long shot, but if the Dallas Mavericks managed to pull it off, their title hopes would immediately shoot upward, as Lauri Markkanen could help take them to the next level.

With his offensive game, Markkanen would be an elite third option behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, as he enjoyed a career season this past year, making his first All-Star game.

Markkanen is a ridiculously efficient player and would be able to slot in nicely at the power forward position for Dallas. His mere presence would take a ton of pressure off of Doncic and Irving.

Last offseason, the San Antonio Spurs capitalized on the value of Dejounte Murray after his first All-Star season. Who’s to say the Utah Jazz wouldn’t consider doing the same?

Josh Green and Jaden Hardy are two very intriguing young talents who could grow into stars if given more minutes. Utah would be banking on Hardy’s star potential and Green’s elite two-way play.

Plus, the first-rounders they would be getting could be interesting. The last of the three firsts would be a pick swap in 2030, and by then, who knows what the Mavericks could look like?

As noted, this trade is an extreme long shot, as the Jazz will likely choose to hold onto Markkanen. But if they wanted to capitalize on his value, now would be the time to do it.

Potential starting lineups

Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Reggie Bullock, Lauri Markkanen, Maxi Kleber

Jazz: Collin Sexton, Josh Green, Ochai Agbaji, Taylor Hendricks, Walker Kessler