Recent trade sets stage for Mavs' conference finals showdown with rising rival

The Dallas Mavericks start their first preseason game in less than a week, and the team seems destined to continue last season's success. The team revamped its roster as it obtained players destined to improve its defense. Dallas acquired Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes in a steal, as both players are elite defenders who can elevate the team.

Offensively, the Mavs obtained one of the top 3-point shooters in league history. Klay Thompson signed a three-year deal with Dallas in the summer, spurning teams like the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Mavericks continued to spurn the Lakers when Spencer Dinwiddie signed a one-year contract with the team. This was seen as a plus, as he showed drastic improvement defensively in Los Angeles.

If anything, this simply proves Dallas is one step ahead of the Lakers. Now, in comparison to the rest of the Western Conference, the Mavericks might be a step ahead of other teams too.

Mavs and Thunder are destined to meet in Western Conference Finals

Last week, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded four-time all-star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. In Dallas' terms, this move puts the Mavs ahead of Minnesota. This move is a downgrade for Minnesota, as Randle's numbers fail to match the success of Towns. If you recall the Mavs beat Minnesota in five games during the Western Conference Finals. So, adding Randle lays the foundation for Dallas to continue dethroning Minnesota.

As for the rest of the conference, many top teams either digressed or failed to show improvement. For example, the LA Clippers lost Paul George this season, the Phoenix Suns failed to solve their age problem, and the Denver Nuggets lost its top defender Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

However, not every team had a poor offseason. One team that took a major step was the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC traded for defensive star Alex Caruso and signed Isaiah Hartenstein this offseason. Both players are major defenders who will have an immediate impact.

So, if Dallas hopes to reach the NBA Finals again it will have to get past OKC. This is the domino effect of the Towns' trade. It simply guarantees the Mavericks and the Thunder as the top teams atop the West. You could easily throw Denver in there, but their lack of a productive offseason could hinder their Finals hopes.

Assuming both teams are in the Conference Finals, this would be a marque showdown. Last postseason, Dallas got the upper hand as they beat Oklahoma City in six games. It was a close series though, as three games were decided by four points or less.

With the additions both teams made, this would be an interesting playoff series.