The Dallas Mavericks have “dangled” the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on the trade market in hopes of acquiring a veteran player that can help the team win now, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
“The Mavericks have dangled the 10th overall pick with the hope of landing a veteran player who can impact winning immediately, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.
It makes sense that Dallas wants to add a proven impact player since the team already has championship aspirations with Luka Doncic on the roster.
Dallas made the Western Conference Finals in the 2021-22 season, but it took a major step back in the 2022-23 campaign, failing to even make the play-in tournament in the West.
The Mavericks’ biggest offseason decision this year deals with guard Kyrie Irving, who was acquired in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline in the 2022-23 season. Irving played well for Dallas, averaging 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game across 20 games for the team.
However, the Mavs didn’t win enough to stay in the playoff picture, and now they could lose Irving for nothing in free agency since he is free to sign with any team.
If the Mavericks do bring Irving back, it would make sense for them to get another player that can help him and Doncic win now.
Dallas had to move defensive-minded wing Dorian Finney-Smith in the Irving trade, and the team struggled on that end of the floor in the 2022-23 season, finishing 25th in the league in defensive rating.
Adding a quality two-way player would certainly raise Dallas’ ceiling, and it may help the team contend more than taking a chance on a rookie at No. 10.
The Mavs may need to replace forward Christian Wood as well, as the big man is also an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The Western Conference was loaded in the middle in the 2022-23 regular season, with the teams that made the play-in tournament fighting for position up to the final days of the regular season.
That means Dallas is going to need to improve the roster in any way possible this offseason, and the best way to maximize a core headlined by Doncic — and potentially Irving — may be by adding a veteran over a rookie.
