players the Mavericks are looking to trade for after Dec. 15

Following Thursday night’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Dallas Mavericks are 15-9 and fourth in the Western Conference.

Despite their loss last night, Dallas is playing well even without Kyrie Irving and Josh Green, and the Mavericks’ next man up mentality is working perfectly.

Dante Exum, who dropped 26 points and went 7-9 from downtown against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, has benefited from the Mavericks’ injuries.

After December 15, the Mavericks should look to trade for 10 players.

Despite their strong play, Dallas could be a team active in the trade market as early as today. Because today is December 15, it is the first day for players who signed new contracts this summer to be traded.

Dallas appears to be constantly active in the trade market, and they have made two blockbusters in the last two seasons, trading for Kyrie Irving and trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards.

Here are ten players the Mavericks should look to trade for right away.

10. Jalen McDaniels

Despite the fact that Jalen McDaniels has underperformed for the Toronto Raptors this season, he is someone the Mavericks could look to trade for to make a minor upgrade at the end of their bench.

McDaniels is averaging 2.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.6 steals per game this season. He has only played 9.2 minutes per game since moving to Toronto, but he has previously performed admirably.

McDaniels was a key member of the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation last season, averaging 17.5 minutes per game and 6.7 points per game.

A McDaniels trade is intriguing because it provides the Mavericks with some positional size. Dallas is a small team in general, so adding a 6-foot-9 wing to the mix would be advantageous. He is a solid transition scorer, and his ability to guard multiple positions would be extremely valuable on this roster.

Given his slow start to the season, McDaniels could be someone the Mavericks are willing to pay a low price for. He also works extremely hard despite earning only about $4.5 million per season on his newly signed two-year contract.

I don’t see Dallas pursuing McDaniels outright, but Dallas could assist the Raptors in facilitating some sort of three-team deal and land McDaniels in the process.

9. Dennis Smith Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks’ logjam of guards off the bench is one of the most intriguing aspects of their roster.

Josh Green, Jared Hardy, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Seth Curry all come off the bench and deserve to play. Whether in Dallas or somewhere else.

Three of these four guards are also offensive players, with Green being the only one who can defend the perimeter well. Trading for Dennis Smith Jr. would provide the Mavericks with another talented guard off the bench, but Smith Jr. is also an elite perimeter defender.

Smith Jr. is averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.8 steals per game for the Nets this season, while shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from deep. He has made tremendous progress over the last two seasons, and bringing him back to Dallas would benefit the team’s overall defense and provide them with someone who can defend at the point of attack.

Smith Jr. has previously played in Dallas, and he and Luka Doncic were good friends during Doncic’s rookie season. It’s unclear how much Brooklyn would ask for Smith Jr., but I could see Dallas pursuing him as the second piece in a deal if Dorian Finney-Smith is ever pursued.

Both players would contribute to Dallas’ defense and have previously played for the Mavericks.

8. Bol Bol.

Bol Bol’s signing with the Phoenix Suns this offseason was a highly anticipated move. Some speculated that Bol would be a contender for Defensive Player of the Year, but Bol has yet to see significant playing time in Phoenix.

Bol has only appeared in five games and is averaging 2.4 minutes per game. He’s not even in the Suns’ rotation right now.

This comes as a huge surprise, as Bol had an excellent season for the Orlando Magic last season and appeared to be a solid rotation piece going forward. The Orlando Magic gave him a chance that the Denver Nuggets never really gave him, and he flourished.

Bol averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game for the Magic last season. He is one of the most unique players in the NBA, and he would provide the Mavericks with much-needed positional size (once again).

Bol is a 7-foot-3 power forward with the mobility of a guard. His open-floor scoring ability is insane, as he is difficult to stop in transition and has the length to finish extremely difficult shots around the basket.

Bol is a fun piece to have in Dallas because he provides size in the frontcourt and is only 24 years old. On defense, having him and Dereck Lively II on the floor together would be intriguing, and I believe Luka Doncic could help him take his game to the next level.

Bol has also been a trade target for the Mavericks in the last six months, and they may consider making another move for him.

7. Jevon Carter

Jevon Carter is another player the Dallas Mavericks should look to acquire via trade, as he became tradeable today, and the fact that he plays for the Chicago Bulls also works in Dallas’ favor.

Both DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have recently been linked to trades, and if Chicago trades those two, they may consider trading many of their other players as well. Carter is a defensive-minded point guard who would thrive in Dallas.

Carter is averaging 5.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 steals per game for the Bulls this season, while shooting 36.1 percent from deep. I don’t see Dallas pursuing Carter solely, but he would be an excellent addition if they pursued someone like Andre Drummond or Patrick Williams.

Carter would fit in well in Dallas because of his ability to pursue ball handlers and his desire to stop whoever he is guarding. He couldn’t care less about his point total. Carter is content if he has a strong defensive game and his team wins.

Having someone like that in Dallas is important because Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the team’s stars and take the majority of the shots. A defensive-minded player playing alongside those two would be a great fit, and Dallas wouldn’t have to give up much to get him.

Both DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have recently been linked to trades, and if Chicago trades those two, they may consider trading many of their other players as well. Carter is a defensive-minded point guard who would thrive in Dallas.

Carter is averaging 5.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 steals per game for the Bulls this season, while shooting 36.1 percent from deep. I don’t see Dallas pursuing Carter solely, but he would be an excellent addition if they pursued someone like Andre Drummond or Patrick Williams.

Carter would fit in well in Dallas because of his ability to pursue ball handlers and his desire to stop whoever he is guarding. He couldn’t care less about his point total. Carter is content if he has a strong defensive game and his team wins.

Having someone like that in Dallas is important because Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the team’s stars and take the majority of the shots. A defensive-minded player playing alongside those two would be a great fit, and Dallas wouldn’t have to give up much to get him.

6. Torrey Craig

Torrey Craig is another Chicago Bulls player the Dallas Mavericks should consider trading for.

Craig is averaging 5.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 steals per game this season in Chicago, while shooting 41.6 percent from deep. Craig is having a fantastic first season in Chicago, and if Dallas were to pursue him, he would be an excellent fit.

Landing Craig, like Jevon Carter, would be much easier for the Mavericks if they first traded Zach LaVine and/or DeMar DeRozan. That would imply that the Bulls are in the process of rebuilding, which means that keeping Craig would be counterproductive.

Contenders would contact the Bulls in an attempt to trade Craig because he is a great defender who stretches the floor on offense. There can never be too many 3-and-D players, especially in the playoffs, and Craig has already appeared in 75 playoff games in his career.

Craig’s ability to guard both forwards and guards on defense would be useful in Dallas, and he would be an excellent addition to this team off the bench. He also works very hard and brings the grit that playoff teams require late in the season.

Craig is currently signed to a two-year contract with a player option for next season.

5. Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder is the second former Dallas Maverick to make this list, and I’m sure every Mavs fan would warmly welcome him back.

Crowder is averaging 8.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and 51.6 percent from downtown. He’s having a strong season after appearing in only 18 games last year.

Crowder has already had success for Dallas early in his career, and his ability to defend and stretch the floor off the bench, like many others on this list, would help the Mavericks prepare for the playoffs.

Crowder has the ideal frame for a versatile defender, standing 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and weighing 235 pounds. He has proven this numerous times throughout his career, and his extremely high 3-point numbers to begin the year are also intriguing.

When Crowder’s name has come up in trade rumors in the past, the team’s asking price has been high, but he is on an expiring contract this year. Playoff teams would love to add Crowder to their rosters as the season progresses, and Dallas may be able to pull off a trade that brings Crowder back to DFW.

4. Cam Reddish

Another 3-and-D winger joins this list, but this player may be more difficult to acquire than the previously mentioned Jae Crowder.

Cam Reddish is having a fantastic season for the Los Angeles Lakers, and having him as a bench piece for the rest of the season would be huge for the Dallas Mavericks, as he brings everything a 3-and-D wing needs.

Reddish is averaging 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game for the Lakers this season, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep. He has significantly improved on defense, and he is demonstrating that he is now playing for a contender.

Despite his low scoring numbers, Reddish has been an important piece for the Lakers this season. He averages 24 minutes per game and has made 14 starts. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has quickly outplayed his veteran’s minimum contract and risen up the depth chart.

The Lakers will almost certainly be wary of trading for Reddish, especially given that they will almost certainly be in the thick of the playoff race by the time the trade deadline arrives, but Reddish would be a huge pickup for Dallas if the Lakers were to do so.

3. Patrick Beverley

Patrick Beverley is best known for his never-ending trash talk and presence as a threat on the court, and he would be a great addition to the Dallas Mavericks if the Philadelphia 76ers decided to trade him soon.

Beverley is averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.5 steals per game for the 76ers this season, while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 32 percent from deep. Beverley’s hustle, defense, and ability to lead a unit off the bench are all appealing, but is the distraction worth it?

Some might consider Beverley a distraction because he is constantly talking trash and pulling antics. Although his distractions have decreased over time, there is still a risk given the type of player he is.

Despite the distractions, Beverley is a high-level role player with playoff experience that any team would want. Over the course of his career, he has appeared in 65 playoff games, starting 54 of them.

He possesses elite physicality, defense, and intensity and would be an excellent fit off the bench in Dallas if they decided to pursue him. I don’t think he’d be easy to sign, like a few other players on this list, but he’d be a good fit if they could find a way to bring him to Dallas.

2. Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder of the Toronto Raptors is another pesky guard who could be traded today.

Because of how well Schroder is playing, he would be more difficult to acquire in a trade than Patrick Beverley, but the fact that multiple Raptors star players could be on the move this deadline could open the door for Dallas to get involved as a third team to pursue him.

Schroder is averaging 15.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game this season for Toronto, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field. Schroder has started all 24 games for the Raptors this season, and he would be an excellent addition to the Mavericks’ bench.

With Dallas’ starting guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks would gain another great guard in Schroder to lead the second unit.

Obviously, Dallas requires more forwards than guards; however, Schroder could be someone Dallas considers if they send some of their other guards elsewhere in a separate trade. Schroder’s defense, intelligence, and facilitating skills would serve him well in Dallas, where he would be surrounded by shooters.

Although the fit on the court would be ideal, a move for Schroder may face some opposition due to some of his off-court actions this summer. He made some off-the-cuff remarks about Mavs forward Maxi Kleber not playing for Germany, and if things haven’t blown over there yet, this could make things awkward in the locker room.

1. Taurean Prince

Taurean Prince of the Los Angeles Lakers is another difficult acquisition on this list. I don’t see the Lakers trading him, as they did with Cam Reddish, but I think Dallas could use a player like Prince.

Prince is averaging 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game for the Lakers this season. So far, he has been an elite role player for Los Angeles, starting every game.

Prince is a 6-foot-7, 218-pound wing who could come off the bench for the Mavericks. With Maxi Kleber out for the majority of the season, the Mavericks have had to rely on Markieff Morris for size off the bench.

Morris is a bench player, and adding a better player who can take his minutes would benefit Dallas. When Kleber returns, he will most likely be that player, but he hasn’t been great in his minutes this season either.

Jason Kidd would benefit from having Prince as a floor spacer and defensive piece, but acquiring him would be easier said than done. The Lakers would almost certainly demand a high price for him in a trade, and the Mavericks may not have the assets to make this happen.

Will the Dallas Mavericks make a trade before the trade deadline, or will they stick with their current roster?

Stay tuned for the most up-to-date information on the Dallas Mavericks this season.

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