The Dallas Mavericks need help, but they don’t want to risk another Rondo
Unless an NBA team is willing to hand the Dallas Mavericks a rebounding forward, or a legit point guard, in exchange for a few autographed jerseys signed by Luka, the team is prepared to go the rest of the way with what they have.
As often as the franchise under Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson have been able to complete an absurdly hard trade, do not expect them to take a risk on Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo.
(For those of you who erased “Rondo” from your Mavs’ memory, the team acquired the moody point guard from the Celtics in December of 2014 and it turned out to be one of the worst trades in their history).
There are areas of concern for the Mavs, but the team is content with the progress they have made and are not in a mode to significantly alter their squad before the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The team has interest in certain players and would like to upgrade certain positions, but their biggest concern is not doing anything stupid that will hinder the development of a team that can contend for a title. They have virtually no first-round picks to deal, and they don’t want to get stuck with a bad contract.
They know they need to make a move or two to compete for a Western Conference title, but they always felt this season would be about making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
So give up on the idea of the Mavs trading for Detroit Pistons forward Andre Drummond, even if he fits. The Pistons are going to want more than what the Mavs can reasonably offer, and he will soon want a max contract.
Although acquiring Oklahoma City Thunder veteran point guard Chris Paul makes (some) basketball sense, that he is on the hook for $85 million over the next two years does not.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is a person of interest for the Mavs, but the two years and $51 mil’ remaining on his contract are a tad beyond this team’s comfort level.
The reason for hope
The Mavs are going to be in the playoffs, mostly likely as a middle-of-the-pack seed. That’s La Luka.
Luka Doncic is already one of the best players in the NBA. The Mavs mission now is to get him help, and to relieve some of the pressure he feels to do everything but serve as Mark Followill’s color guy every night.
The Mavs lean on Luka the way the Cleveland Cavaliers did early in LeBron James’ career. Or the way the Thunder did on Russell Westbrook after Kevin Durant left.
One top-tier NBA player can still carry a team into the playoffs.
The Mavs are currently one of the NBA’s better rebounding teams, as Luka and Kristaps Porzingis combine to average just under 20 boards per game.
Porzingis is also very good shot blocker.
About Zingis, his knee has been acting up. Officially, it’s just a bit sore, but it’s caused him to miss seven games, and counting. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle was a little testy when talking about the injury this week. In fairness, RC can grow edgy when discussing the weather.
The Mavs are a respectable defensive team, but after coming off two double-digit defeats to the Lakers in recent weeks you’d be right to wonder how they’d survive a seven-game series.
When Zingis is out, as evidenced by what happened in the Mavs’ 129-114 home loss to the Lakers Friday night, they are not a good defensive team. Their bigs — Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell — just aren’t big enough.
And while Luka is essentially this team’s point guard, the Mavs would like another guy who could do it. Someone along with Jalen Brunson and Delon Wright.
As long as Luka and Zingis are on the floor, they have enough to make the playoffs — and make the first round interesting.
Playing the long game
Doncic has saved the franchise, and while he is a generational talent the NBA is still the NBA. In the modern era, nearly every major star must lose a bit before it all works.
The club is satisfied to be among the top eight in the Western Conference, and they know they have their guy to build their roster around. That’s what this season is about.
Guys like Drummond and Holiday “fit,” and both would be upgrades, but either one would gobble up too much cap space. The Mavs would prefer to make their run at adding pieces in the off-season.
The Mavs are better than expected, and they are relevant again. They do not want to do anything stupid, like take an ill-advised risk by dealing rising talent to add Rondo.
Upgrades are available, but unless another team just gives them away, expect the Mavs to look like this for the remainder of the season.
This story was originally published January 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
