Pacers deciding to rebuild presents opportunity for Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have split their first 22 games and are currently seventh in the Western Conference. They plan on improving and avoiding the play-in tournament. Superstar Luka Doncic has missed four games and Kristaps Porzingis was on the sidelines for seven during their uneven start to the 2021-2022 season.

The Mavs need to upgrade their roster. Their lack of ball-handling has been on full display, especially when Doncic is on the bench, and the team’s center rotation has been subpar. New general manager Nico Harrison should be making calls, but trades are unlikely to happen until the trade restrictions on players that signed in the offseason are lifted on Dec. 15.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz reported the Pacers are planning on moving towards a rebuild (subscription required), and that presents an opportunity for the Mavericks.

Pacers decision to rebuild presents opportunity for Dallas Mavericks

The Athletic report suggests that Caris LeVert, Myles Turner, and Domantas Sabonis are on the trade block. Indiana cannot trade Malcolm Brogdon this season because he just signed an extension. The Pacers have several veterans that should draw interest on the market, and it will be interesting to see how deep into a rebuild they decide to go.

The Mavericks likely do not have the pieces to acquire Sabonis, but Turner would fix the team’s center woes. The Texas native is one of the best shot blockers in the league and is a career 35.6 percent 3-point shooter.

The fit with Kristaps Porzingis is far from perfect, but Turner is a massive upgrade over Dwight Powell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Boban Marjanovic, and Moses Brown. Head coach Jason Kidd views KP as a four and acquiring a defensive-minded center that can space the floor is something Dallas should explore.

LeVert averaged over 20 points and five assists per game last season. He is a below-average 3-point shooter, but the 6’6 wing would give the Mavericks another capable offensive creator.

The Dallas Mavericks still owe their 2023 first-round pick to the New York Knicks from the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and the top ten protection on that selection prevents them from trading their 2025 first-rounder. Does Dallas have enough to acquire Turner or LeVert? GM Nico Harrison should be calling to find out.

The Pacers will not be the only sellers at the trade deadline, and the Mavericks should be looking to add pieces if they want to make a playoff run this season. Stay tuned to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest rumors, news, and analysis on the Mavs.