The Dallas Mavericks haven’t gotten the 2024-25 season off to a great start, holding an 8-7 record through the first 15 games of the season. With Luka Doncic being ruled out for a week, the Mavericks could be in trouble over their next four to five games of losing steam in the competitive Western Conference.
If they’re still hanging around the Play-In Tournament by the end of December, all eyes will be on Dallas to make another major trade acquisition after saving their season. They did the same last year with the winter acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington.
A similar bullet for success doesn’t exist in the market this season, but there are plenty of players on the market who the Mavericks might feel compelled to take a flier on.
They have a solid team right now and need to find the perfect way of playing alongside each other. As a result, we think these are three trades that the Mavericks should run away from if they fall across their lap this season.
John Collins
The Mavericks have often felt like the kind of team where a big like John Collins could thrive. He’s a high-effort pick-and-roll partner with a shooting stroke, so Luka Doncic would likely love to have a player like him in his offensive line. While the theoretical fit seems great, the Mavericks should resist any temptation of freeing Collins from the tanking Utah Jazz.
Collins is having a great season, averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. However, the cost to acquire Collins simply wouldn’t be worth it for the Mavericks.
To match his $26.5 million contract, the Mavericks would likely have to attach young assets like Quentin Grimes or Jaden Hardy to Maxi Kleber’s $11 million deal, alongside Naji Marshall as well. The outgoing cost won’t justify what they get with Collins, especially with his contract size.
The Mavericks could make use of Collins, but maintaining their big man core of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively while trusting PJ Washington and Marshall as forwards alongside their big men would be better than hoping Collins can be serviceable while providing both roles.
Jerami Grant
The Mavericks seem like a perfect trade partner for the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant, with the 30-year-old veteran expected to be traded to a contender eventually to open space for the young and developing Blazers roster.
The Mavericks have a clear hole in their frontcourt outside PJ Washington, with Grant coming in and likely solidifying himself as the starting small or power forward alongside Washington. I believe the Mavericks shouldn’t do this deal for a number of reasons.
First, Grant is averaging 16.7 points on 38.1% from the field this season, looking like a major inconvenience on the court for the Blazers. Second, he’s owed $133 million over the next four years, which would worsen the Mavericks’ tight cap situation. Finally, he’s not been on a winning team in six years, so expecting him to come in and accept being a role-player in Dallas is optimistic.
Bringing Grant in will likely force Dallas to bench Klay Thompson to play Washington and Grant alongside Luka and Kyrie and a center, which could create morale issues.
Ultimately, the headaches fitting Grant into the roster from a style perspective, as well as a cap perspective, simply don’t seem worth it, especially if the Mavs have to give up Kleber, Daniel Gafford, Grimes, and other solid assets.
Zach LaVine
The Mavericks had floated around a potential trade for Zach LaVine for years until they got Kyrie Irving, making the presence of an offensive talent like LaVine moot. But the 2024 Playoffs led them to the conclusion that they need more reliable scoring beyond their dynamic backcourt, with a resurgent LaVine potentially being the answer this season if the Mavericks can’t climb up the standings.
LaVine is averaging 22.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season, proving his value as a leading scorer by making winning plays. His inflated contract means the Mavericks will need to find $43.3 million in contract space for Zach, which likely would lead to the inclusion of summer signing Klay Thompson as well, with LaVine being a direct replacement for Klay in his role.
This would be a drastic step, and one the Mavericks should avoid even if they continue losing in the coming weeks.
LaVine’s value likely won’t be high, so the Mavericks could even receive another positive asset just for giving enough players to the Bulls to match contracts. However, Dallas has to remember that they can find offensive production by simply playing a more team-oriented style given the offensive talents of various players on their roster. Going outside and bringing LaVine might hurt them more than help them.
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