Spicy rumor primes Mavericks to steal past dream trade target Nico would love

Heading into this offseason, Dallas Mavericks fans were beyond concerned for the state of their favorite team. After trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, their season crashed and burned, and their future was not looking as promising as it once was with Doncic at the helm.

All of that changed when Dallas won the NBA Draft Lottery last month, though, as they'll have the chance to select Cooper Flagg on June 25, but even with Flagg coming to Dallas, this offseason holds some uncertainty. It seems like some sort of trade will be made before the season begins, as they have a surplus of frontcourt players and some big financial decisions to make with Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington both being extension-eligible, and the New Orleans Pelicans may be a perfect trade match for them if they wish to shake up their roster.

According to Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports, no one on the Pelicans is untouchable this summer, and they are "gauging the market for everyone on their roster." This includes defensive ace Herbert Jones, who the Mavericks were interested in trading for at this past trade deadline, and now may be the perfect time for Dallas to engage in these trade talks with New Orleans again.

The time is now for Dallas to trade for Herbert Jones

While Jones doesn't fit Dallas's biggest need right now, as they badly need guard help to replace Kyrie Irving until he returns from his ACL tear, they'd be adding one of the best wing defenders in the NBA on an affordable contract. Jones is making less than $29 million over the next two seasons, and he'd be an excellent fit on the Mavericks to become their perimeter defensive stopper.

As everyone knows, Nico Harrison is focused on the Mavericks' defensive identity as they begin this new era, and this just happens to be Jones's calling card. In the 2023-24 season, Jones was a member of the All-NBA First Team while also getting fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and having him and Flagg on the wing together would cause nightmares for other teams.

While acquiring Jones would likely mean that Washington is gone, considering they'd have way too many forwards to play since Flagg is on the way, his potential fit is too strong for Harrison to overlook. Jones would become the best defender on the team by a long shot right away, and the Mavs could trot out one of the scariest defensive lineups in the league that would include Jones, Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II in certain situations.

Last season for New Orleans, Jones averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and a career-low 30.6 percent from downtown in just 20 games. Jones's season ultimately ended after he had to have shoulder surgery on his torn labrum in February, and his injury-plagued season, combined with his low shooting numbers, could drive the Pelicans' asking price down if they do indeed consider trading him.

Harrison should try to refrain from including the Mavs' first-round picks in trades this summer, as they must prioritize building around Flagg moving forward, but a player like Jones could be worth it if they can also trade for a high-level guard elsewhere to round out their roster. Jones is the exact type of player you want on your side in the playoffs due to his knack for shutting down star players, and considering he is only 26 years old, he could become a member of the Mavs' core as well.

His offensive fit would be a bit shaky if they plan to start him next to Irving, Flagg, Davis, and Lively II once everyone is fully healthy, but they could consider bringing him off the bench and allowing Klay Thompson to start in his place to give them more shooting in that starting five. It's undeniable that the Mavs need more shooting this offseason, and while Jones did shoot over 40 percent from three in the 2023-24 season, his down shooting year last year could be an area of concern.

Outside of his shooting, Jones is known for his cutting as he is a good off-ball mover, and he is also a good finisher in transition. He isn't the type of player Dallas would rely upon to create for himself, but his 3-point shooting from the corner and wings, combined with his cutting, make him enough of a threat to never get played off the floor.

This Jones-to-Dallas chatter is only poised to heat up, especially with the Mavs being a betting favorite to land him in a trade this summer, and this will likely ultimately come down to whether Dallas thinks they truly need him or not. They have many other needs they need to consider before trading for a high-profile wing, and while the potential fit seems to be exciting, some parts would definitely need to be moved around first.

The Pelicans' approach this summer truly could have just opened the door for Harrison and the Mavericks to pursue Jones, and we'll have you covered with all the latest.