Dallas Mavericks: The time to trade for a 3rd star is not now

Without the injured Luka Doncic in the fold the Dallas Mavericks lost the other night falling to 18-9 and leading many to believe it’s time to add a third star.

It’s safe to say, the 2019-20 Dallas Mavericks are better basketball team than most of us imagined they’d be. Buoyed primarily by NBA MVP candidate, Luka Doncic, the Mavs have gone toe to toe with the very best in the NBA and more often than not, come out on top.

What was once considered a fringe playoff team is now considered a fringe title contender. The Dallas Mavericks are ahead of schedule and if they want to strike while the iron is hot, they may want to add that third star player sooner than planned.

The Dallas Mavericks are for real. Only one team has beaten the top team in both the Eastern and Western Conferences this season and that’s the Mavs. Sure, they snuck by the Bucks like a thief in the night and probably came out on top because Milwaukee underestimated them. But the fact remains they won. In a hostile environment. Without their best player playing and with the Busks best player playing like a beast.

The Mavs have had enough big wins against elite teams that we know their success is no fluke. And considering the injury troubles powerhouses like the Warriors are experiencing, the window is open now for an aspiring team like Dallas. How long that window stays open is anyone’s guess. That’s why the Dallas Mavericks can’t afford to just be content with their current success and must adjust expectations to something much higher. Like competing for a title.

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With a title the goal, it becomes pretty clear Dallas needs a third star on the court to match with Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. The game changes in the postseason and benches get shorter and rotations tighter. Without Seth Curry or Tim Hardaway Jr performing efficiently on a consistent basis, the Dallas Mavericks likely need to upgrade at the third-best-player spot. That much we can agree on. But the time is not now.

I know, I just spent the better part of the page arguing the need. But in the absence of Luka, this far ahead of the deadline isn’t the right time.

First, we’re all a little irrational sans Luka. Our MVP is out and we’re panicking a bit. That’s a bad time to make franchise altering decisions. Second, the prices are too high. Dallas has little to no trade capitol this season so if they want to make a deal they need to wait for it and be as opportunistic as possible.

In coming weeks we’ll dive into the rumored players on the market and assess their fit on the Dallas Mavericks. At the very least, it’s a fun exercise. But we have to keep in mind, adding a new third-best-player isn’t going to be easy. We’re going to need some luck and opportunity to sync up.

The window is open this season and the Dallas Mavericks must take advantage of it. But they’re going to have to wait because prices are too high and Dallas needs to assess their current roster a little longer.

With a roster that’s deep with competent talent, the Mavs can beat opponents a number of different ways and isn’t forced to live and die by their top two stars. They are experiencing sustainable success (provided Luka comes back and stays back). But adding a new third-best-player would help them in the postseason when the top-5 players are the key.

• Published on 12/20/2019 at 12:01 PM
• Last updated at 12/20/2019 at 07:36 AM