Production in key area is keeping Mavericks from needing to make massive trade

The Dallas Mavericks put together a polished offensive performance on Sunday evening, as they beat a frisky Portland Trail Blazers team on the road by a score of 137-131. This game marked the return of Luka Doncic, as Doncic returned from a five-game absence that was prompted by a right wrist sprain.

Doncic played excellent in his return, scoring 36 points on 15-24 shooting from the field while also totaling three steals and seven assists in the game. It was unknown how Doncic was going to look in his return heading into this contest, as his defense and ability to push the pace in transition were two areas that drew heavy criticism from the media and fans this season before he injured his wrist.

Doncic answered the call in both of those areas against the Trail Blazers though, blending seamlessly into a Mavericks offense that has looked far more quick and in sync recently. Part of the reason that Dallas' offense has looked better recently has been because of the increased scoring production that they've gotten off their bench, as this stretch without Doncic granted the opportunity for some of Dallas' rotational pieces to get more acclimated to handling the ball and creating their own offense.

Mavs' bench is saving them from needing to trade for a shot creator

Dallas is still dealing with some minor injuries and illnesses at the moment, but once this roster is fully healthy, it appears as if this recent stretch has eliminated the need for the Mavericks to trade for another shot creator off the bench. After some early season questions arose in regard to Dallas' ability to create offense outside of Kyrie Irving and Doncic, the likes of Naji Marshall, Jaden Hardy, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes have all stepped up huge from a shot creation perspective in this recent stretch.

For instance, Dinwiddie has scored 20-plus points in three of his last four contests, appearing to have rekindled his 3-point shot and ability to get to the rim on a consistent basis. Grimes has been uber-efficient from outside as well and has displayed the ability to score at the lower two levels off dribble-drives on a consistent basis recently, as he's posted double figures scoring in seven of his last nine games.

Marshall is coming off an insane streak of scoring until he missed the last game and change with an illness, as he's proving his floater game is unstoppable and his outside shot is finally starting to fall again. The case can be heard for one of Marshall or Grimes to start over Klay Thompson once Thompson returns from his left foot plantar fascia, as the Mavericks haven't had this dynamic of an array of shot creators in the Doncic era.

As aforementioned, even Hardy is stepping up to the plate more offensively, as he's been more proficient as a playmaker and is converting on drives at a far better clip than earlier this season. With Dallas having this level of increased scoring production off the bench, there's no reason to make a midseason trade for another shot creator off the bench, as the Mavericks should opt to focus on upgrading their defense or backup big man spot if they wish to make a move before the trade deadline this season.

However head coach Jason Kidd wants to mix and match Dallas' lineups once this roster is fully healthy is up to him, but multiple Mavericks have proven recently that Dallas' efforts to add more dynamic shot creation into their lineup this offseason worked quite well, even if it took some time for everyone's skillset to get fully exemplified.