Spurs' De'Aaron Fox trade would lay perfect framework for Mavericks to strike

It's no secret the Dallas Mavericks have had tough sledding this season as they have battled injury after injury to superstars and key role players. Not to mention that Dallas traded their franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic on Saturday night, and everything that is going on with the Mavericks is wild right now.

Doncic's absence has left the Mavs without stable offensive play for the last two months, and now it could be more of the same depending on how long it takes for Anthony Davis and Max Christie to get adjusted into the lineup. While Doncic was injured, Kyrie Irving has been torching the scoreboards on a nightly basis in an attempt to keep the Mavericks afloat in a loaded Western Conference.

With the trade deadline just days away and the Mavericks needing to improve their roster even more, the team may look to acquire serious talent in an attempt to keep their championship hopes alive with the new-look roster. While Dallas has been in and out of rumors for the past month, other NBA teams have taken this opportunity to position themselves well for the next disgruntled star to become available.

Mavs could snag Keldon Johnson in presumed Spurs De'Aaron Fox deal

One team that has emerged as potential suitors for Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox has become the San Antonio Spurs. According to multiple reports, the Spurs have emerged as a potential landing spot for Fox.

With this in mind, the Mavericks may be the perfect third team if they wish to acquire forward depth in Keldon Johnson. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the presumed Fox Spurs deal would likely require a multi-team deal and Keldon Johnson could be on the move in said trade.

"San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson is a player several NBA executives are monitoring as a potential trade candidate if the team acquires De'Aaron Fox in a multi-team trade before the deadline," Scotto said.

The Mavericks could consider trading for a forward who could come off the bench and impact the rotation immediately and Johnson fits that mold. At 6-foot-5, Johnson may be an undersized forward, but with his defensive expertise, the Mavericks could add another guard-stopper off the bench.

Johnson isn't only an intriguing defensive ace but over his six-year career, the San Antonio guard has also molded into a respectable offensive weapon. This season, Johnson is averaging 12.2 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field.

While Johnson has a career-worst shooting split from behind the arc at 30.5 percent, this could just be an anomaly as the season before Johnson shot the three-ball at just under 35 percent. These shooting splits may not jump off the page but considering Johnson has yet to play with a point guard of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic's caliber, there is real merit to believing this number could rise as a Maverick.

This season, Johnson has been subjected to a bench role on a struggling San Antonio squad, which could be enough incentive for the Spurs to include him in a multi-team trade if they wish to acquire a star such as Fox this deadline.

Johnson would be an instant day-one contributor off the bench and with the team needing a bit more depth, Johnson may be the perfect target.