Rumors: Luka Doncic wants Dallas Mavericks to upgrade roster before trade deadline

The Dallas Mavericks need to make some moves to improve their roster around Luka Doncic before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. They must add another playmaker after the departure of Jalen Brunson in free agency, and Dallas would love to upgrade at the five. The Mavs owe their 2023 first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade, which complicates their ability to make deals, but that won’t stop their front office from being aggressive before the deadline.

The rumor mill is starting to heat up, and the Mavericks have been linked to multiple names already. Can they find a deal that works? Does Dallas trade another first-round pick to upgrade their roster?

According to the latest from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Doncic could be putting some pressure on the organization to make moves before the deadline. Here is a look at it, and what it means for the Mavericks trade deadline plans.

Rumors: Luka Doncic wants Dallas Mavericks to upgrade roster before trade deadline

The Mavs reached the conference finals last season, and it is no secret that number 77 is one of the most competitive players in the league. Doncic wants to win at everything, and he knows he needs more talent around him to be a true title contender, which is why MacMahon’s latest piece caused a bit of a panic in Dallas.

Near the bottom of the article, MacMahon writes that Luka “has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the Feb. 9 trade deadline”. The 23-year-old superstar has not been involved in personnel decisions, but it is clear that he wants more talent around him moving forward. Is that a strong enough push to make the front office take a swing?

There will be plenty of marquee names available before Feb. 9, but do any of them move the needle enough to make the Dallas Mavericks title contenders? Will Luka Doncic be happy with the team’s upgrades? The Mavs have to get things right or number 77 could request a trade out of town in a few years.

There is a ton riding on the next 12 months in Dallas, and this trade deadline is just the start of building a title team around Doncic. Keep a close eye on what the Mavericks do before Feb. 9.