The Dallas Mavericks currently find themselves 15-15, tied for the 7th best record in the Western Conference this NBA season, but what exactly sticks out about this team other than Luka Doncic? Do not worry, I have time to wait until you come up with an answer…
Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. are the two key secondary scorers next to Doncic and while Porzingis has played well this season, neither guy is really someone you look at and feel comfortable with the ball in their hands.
In fact, you can pretty much say this about everyone on this Dallas roster this season! Inconsistency and mediocre are the two words that come to mind when thinking about the Mavericks so far this season and quite honestly, it is going to be hard for them to change this.
Dallas is shooting 32.7% from three-point range this season, 6th worst in the league, and their key offseason signings that were great three-point shooters a year ago have really struggled. Both Reggie Bullock (41%) and Sterling Brown (42.3%) shot above 40% from three-point range last season with the Knicks and Rockets respectively, but Bullock is only shooting 27.4% from deep this season and Brown is shooting just 28%.
Only two players on their roster, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith are shooting above 36% from deep on the season (min. 50 attempts), which is a major concern for the Dallas Mavericks right now.
In order for them to become a playoff threat in the Western Conference, Dallas is obviously going to have to find ways to add more talent to their roster, but more importantly, they need more consistent three-point weapons.
Moving Seth Curry following the 2019-20 season is looking like a big mistake, but maybe the Mavs could rekindle some of their three-point shooting magic by trading for Buddy Hield ahead of this year’s trade deadline.
Hield is under contract through the 2023-24 season and is owed a total of $61.5M, which is not favorable whatsoever to Dallas, but he is exactly the kind of scoring weapon that they need to add on the perimeter next to Luka Doncic.
Can the Dallas Mavericks get a deal done for one of the best bench scorers in the league this season? Let’s take a look at what this trade could end up looking like.
Dallas Mavericks Receive: G/F Buddy Hield
Sacramento Kings Receive: C Dwight Powell, F Reggie Bullock, G Josh Green, DAL 2025 2nd Round Pick, DAL 2027 2nd Round Pick
The Dallas Mavericks currently find themselves $6M over the salary cap this season and they do have the ability to add another big contract to their roster. In doing so, Dallas would be finding themselves in some cap space problems in future seasons, but they need to make some moves in order to try and win right now.
Seeing as he ranks 3rd on the Sacramento Kings in scoring this season, why would Sacramento want to trade him, especially since they are trying to snap a 15-year playoff drought? Hield’s time in Sacramento has always been very shaky and after the events that transpired this past offseason, it is very likely that he will be on the move in the near future.