Apr 7, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) waves to the crowd during the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
In the latest NBA Draft rumors, three contenders are trying to get back into the first round, the Mavs want out and Ausar Thompson cancels on the Pacers.
NBA Draft rumors: 3. Dallas Mavericks want to trade first-round pick
According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavs want to trade their first-round pick. They are currently looking at options where they trade down in the draft or trade out of it completely. It seems the goal of this is to add multiple rotation players to their core of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. At the end of the day, the Mavs might need multiple 3-and-D wings that can surround the core creators. With Doncic and Irving, the defense will be questioned.
Adding a player who can do that would help this team tremendously even if Irving leaves in free agency this offseason. The Mavs most likely won’t gonna get a star or package this pick for a star in the next week or two. With that in mind, picking a player who can be positive and help limit the weaknesses of Doncic (sometimes not the best defense) would be very huge for the team.
With the fact that Irving is seriously defensively challenged, taking a guard is still an option for this team even though he will not start. If the rookie/trade return is the sixth or seventh man in the rotation, it makes a lot of sense to trade for him due to the fact that he will help the defensive end when it is Irving’s and the player’s lineup minutes (when Luka Doncic is out).