The Golden State Warriors are on the brink of having to make major moves to arrest their slump. They have had a disappointing season so far, ranking in the bottom five of the Western Conference and in danger of missing even the Play-In Tournament.
A roster overhaul seems unlikely, although Shams Charania recently reported that the mindset in Golden State is that only Stephen Curry is off-limits in trade talks.
What could it mean for the Dallas Mavericks? At 23-17, the team might have to improve its roster to keep up with some of the Western Conference’s top contenders. As such, it only seems wise to check out what the Warriors could offer in the trade market.
The Dubs have a few youngsters that could pique the Mavs’ interest. For instance, Jonathan Kuminga, who is rumored to be frustrated with his role under coach Steve Kerr’s system, could fill the position Dallas reportedly wants to upgrade via trade. The former lottery pick could also meet the organization’s need for a lengthier two-way wing.
Golden State also has veterans it might look to move on from for the right price. One of them is Andrew Wiggins, who has experienced an inexplicable decline on the court. Two seasons ago, he was the second-best player on a championship team. But now, he has been in and out of the starting lineup because of his erratic play. The Mavs, though, could explore trading for him, as Wiggins could provide solid perimeter defense and play the four in small-ball lineups if he can return to form.
However, a piece that could also move the needle for Dallas is big man Kevon Looney. The squad could use some depth at the center position behind Dereck Lively II, especially since the combination of Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber just might not cut it in a league that has gotten bigger over the past several seasons.
The Mavs brought in Richaun Holmes in the offseason, although that hasn’t panned out as expected. Rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper looks more comfortable at power forward and appears a year or two away from becoming a rotation player.
Landing Looney can be the solution and also address some of the team’s weaknesses, such as rebounding. The last playoffs saw the three-time champion record at least 20 rebounds in the Warriors’ first-round series against the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since Dwight Howard in 2008.
His counting stats may not show it, but his defense has also been consistently solid throughout his NBA career. Having someone like Looney patrol the paint could help Dallas limit opponents from scoring inside the shaded area. They allow 53.2 points in the paint per game, with only six other squads permitting more.
Moreover, Looney is an underrated playmaker. He even nearly matched the total assists of Domantas Sabonis, who is averaging 7.7 dimes per contest in this campaign, recorded through the Warriors’ seven-game matchup against the Kings.
It’s unclear if Golden State would even consider putting Looney on the trading block. But if it does, the Mavs should check out if fits their short-term and long-term plans.
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