The Dallas Mavericks are beginning to look like the team that reached the NBA Finals last season with a record of 19-10 (good for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference).
Still, to get them over the hump, additional moves are needed at the trade deadline. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported the Mavericks’ front office is hoping to land assistance in a specific position group.
“There were some rival teams at Showcase wondering aloud whether the Mavericks, who are known to be exploring their options for potential frontcourt upgrades, might make another trade run at Kuzma this winter,” Stein wrote. “But such a scenario was strongly dismissed to me.”
This report opens the door for plenty of speculation ahead of February’s deadline. One name the Mavericks should undoubtedly explore a trade for is Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin. A trade between Dallas and Indiana could work out similar to the following:
Pacers receive: Maxi Kleber, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, 2028 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick (via DET)
Mavericks receive: Obi Toppin
Toppin brings two key attributes to the Mavericks’ rotation. First is off-the-charts athleticism that could benefit the team on both ends of the floor. Second is a balanced and efficient shot selection that would work well off the styles of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The 26-year-old is averaging 4 shots inside the arc and 3.6 shots from three-point range through 29 appearances.
In other words, his shot selection could mesh nicely with the star-studded backcourt tandem. The likelihood of this deal comes down to how willing the Pacers are to part with Toppin.
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