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After falling short against the Clippers for the second straight postseason, one thing has become abundantly clear: the Mavs need to find Luka Doncic help. They simply have needs to fill on their roster. With no secondary playmaking, and a lack of consistent scoring off the bench, no athleticism on the wings, or a traditional center on the roster, the Mavs put a lot of pressure on Luka Doncic by making him carry a huge load on the offensive end. In turn, it also wears him out on the defensive end, and further shows their need to find him help.
It became evident every time they lost that they were unable to stay efficient and create offense without Luka on the floor. Having said all that, let's take a look at the four players the Mavs need to trade for to provide their superstar with a legitimate supporting cast that can compete at a high level.
Bradley Beal
The runner-up to Stephen Curry for this year's scoring title, Bradley Beal is one of the best scoring guards in the league. He finds himself in a situation similar to Luka Doncic in the sense that he needs a better supporting cast in order to compete for a title. In Beal, the Mavs get a consistent and seasoned shooting guard with a great defensive presence who also has the ability to play point guard as well. For the early part of the season when Russell Westbrook was out injured, Beal wound up playing a lot of combo guard for the Wizards and showcased his playmaking and his ability to run a highly efficient, fast-paced offense.
This a move that makes complete sense for the Mavs as it would alleviate Luka's load on the offensive end and provide them with a seasoned, battle-tested veteran with strong playoff experience who can also give them consistently good perimeter defense.
D'Angelo Russell
A former All-Star selection that was ravaged by injuries all last season and has been totally overlooked since being moved from the Brooklyn Nets. D'Angelo Russell would serve as the perfect backcourt mate to Luka Doncic, he's a young, versatile guard that also has the ability to play both the 1 and 2 spots on the floor.
He can score it from anywhere on the floor and create offense for others as well. At just 25 years of age, D'Angelo Russell is the perfect trade target for the Mavs seeing as they could keep him in the fold long-term. With the acquisition of D'Angelo Russell, Dallas would form one of the most prolific backcourts in the league. It would be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and provide Luka with much-needed relief on offense.
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Pascal Siakam
Currently a disgruntled star on a team just two seasons removed from winning the NBA title, it has become blatantly obvious that Pascal Siakam isn't pleased with the Toronto Raptors. After witnessing him lash out at Raptors coach Nick Nurse and seeming to lose his place in a franchise that's headed for a complete rebuild, it's looking as Siakam could definitely use a change of scenery.
With Siakam, the Mavs get a young, athletic wing with a great defensive presence and a fast-developing offensive game. After all, Pascal did win the Most Improved Player of the Year award in 2019.
At just 27 years old, Pascal Siakam would be another perfect fit next to Luka Doncic in the Mavs starting lineup. With his speed, length, and slashing ability, he would be just the right fit for the Mavs' high scoring and up-tempo style of play.
Montrezl Harrell
Coming off a disappointing season with the Los Angeles Lakers, it would be an understatement to say that Montrezl Harrell definitely could use a change of scenery. Harrell was definitely not the right fit in the Lakers system. However, he could provide the Mavs with a huge frontcourt boost. He is a mobile big man with defensive grit and toughness who can also give them a lob threat that would allow them to be more versatile when they want to switch to small-ball lineups. Coming in at just 6'7, Montrezl Harrell would be their smallest center, but he provides them with aggression and athleticism that their frontcourt is currently missing. Plus he's got a 7'4 wingspan that can disrupt the passing lanes and provide the Mavs with great rim protection.
With all of this considered, the Dallas Mavericks will definitely have a lot of options this summer for building a deep and skilled roster around Luka Doncic. These are all trades worth pursuing and if they want to make the leap next season then these are all moves they should consider.
