The Dallas Mavericks are officially out of contention for the playoffs, and there’s no doubt that this was a poor outcome for the franchise. They need to make a lot of changes this offseason to put a contender around superstar Luka Doncic.
It seems as though the team is already figuring out its next moves. A recent report from Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report revealed that the team might try to trade for Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton if Kyrie Irving ends up re-signing with the franchise.
“Assuming Irving returns, the Mavericks might have an eye (via trade) on Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton.”
There is no question that Deandre Ayton is one of the best centers in the league, and he could end up being a solid No. 3 option behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. One of the team’s biggest problems this season has been the lack of an elite big man, and Ayton can help them get better on both ends of the floor.
This past season with the Phoenix Suns, Deandre Ayton has averaged 18.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG for the team, and it is clear that he is a great complementary player for any team, though some believe he is slightly overrated.
The Dallas Mavericks Could End Up Losing Luka Doncic If They Don’t Make Improvements To The Team
Luka Doncic is known as a competitor, and he is clearly someone that hates losing. This year must have been extremely disappointing for him due to the team’s lack of success. In fact, a report revealed that Doncic could end up requesting a trade as soon as the 2024 offseason.
“Team sources have acknowledged to ESPN that fear exists that Doncic, who publicly and privately expressed extreme frustration this season, could consider requesting a trade as soon as the summer of 2024 if Dallas doesn’t make significant progress by then.”
Even though they would get a good return for Luka Doncic, losing a generational talent like him isn’t good for any franchise. The best course of action for the Mavericks is to try and build a competitive team around Doncic, which of course, involves retaining Kyrie Irving and making some other trades to adjust the roster.
It remains to be seen how good the Dallas Mavericks look next season. A lot of how they do will depend on the moves they make or don’t make in the offseason, and hopefully, they can become a threat for the championship next year.
Source: fadeawayworld
