Could the Dallas Mavericks trade for Zach Lavine?
The Dallas Mavericks continue to monitor the NBA in search of the perfect player to pair with their superstar Luka Doncic. Could their search lead them to the Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine?
Trade target
As unbelievable of a talent Luka Doncic has been ever since he stepped foot in the Association, the Mavericks have not had too much team success. Apart from their run to the Western Conference Finals last season, the Mavericks have struggled to generate offense when opposing defenses start focusing on Doncic. This is where LaVine enters the conversation, as several members of the Mavericks organization support the idea of acquiring the Bulls ace.
"I do know that there are people who have some juice within the Mavericks organization who are Zach LaVine fans," ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon said.
A two-time All-Star, LaVine remains one of the league's more dangerous scorers, capable of putting the ball in the basket from pretty much any position. A career 38.5% shooter from deep, the UCLA product also has a quick first step that allows him to blow past defenders for a pull-up jumper or a thunderous slam.
Buyer beware
MacMahon, though, noted that the Mavericks aren't falling over themselves to acquire LaVine due to his injury history. LaVine is coming off from a knee surgery he underwent during the offseason, which played a substantial role in his slow start to the season. There's also the matter of the max contract that Zach signed—a five-year, $215 million deal. That alone makes it tough for a team to pry LaVine away from the Bulls, and that's where the Mavericks' hesitation lies.
However, the pressing need to get Doncic some help may supersede these reservations. LaVine is undoubtedly a talented player, and adding him to the Mavericks would be beneficial in more ways than one. He could benefit from playing alongside Doncic and provide the Mavericks with another go-to option when teams throw double teams at Doncic.
"At a certain point, you have to pounce on what might be available," MacMahon said. "We'll see what else might be available. If he's the best in the marketplace, the Mavericks might eventually have to make a play there."
