6 Win-now Dallas Mavericks trade targets if Nico Harrison wants to go all-in
By Austin McGee
![Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic Dec 26, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2786,h_1567,x_0,y_44/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/83/01hjsqng3e16arhq47ny.jpg)
3. Isaiah Stewart
The Mavericks lack quality bigs. And with the Detroit Pistons continued losing, a firesale is more likely than not. Although Isaiah Stewart is a young big, who just signed an extension in the Summer, Detroit is flush with centers, thus his $64 million contract may be expendable.
The 6-foot-8 big man has started every game this season for the Pistons. On the year, he's averaged 10.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.4 3-pointers per game.
Although the five-spot might be a more natural position for Stewart, he's spent nearly 70 percent of his time at power forward. The Pistons already roster Jalen Duren, James Wiseman, and Marvin Bagley III. Thus, Stewart's shooting ability is crucial to play the four.
As awful as Detroit's been, Stewart's on/off splits are an anomaly. The Pistons are 17.4 points per 100/possessions better when Stewart's on the floor. Stewart ranks in the 100th percentile in points allowed per 100/possessions, as Detroit opponents are 12.4 points worse when the Detroit big man is on the court.
Stewart ranks second on the Pistons in defensive rating and defensive win shares. Although he's average amongst the rest of the league in the aforementioned categories, his adequate rankings are more an indicator of the porous Detroit defense as a whole.
The Mavericks lack a true backup big. And, the Mavericks are without a floor-spacing big on the entire roster (other than Maxi Kleber who has missed significant time with an injury). Stewarts provides both and perhaps more. Dallas would get the opportunity to tinker with a Stewart-Lively II pairing in the frontcourt.
Stewart is someone who the Mavs have shown interest in, and he would help bring more physicality to the bench unit.