Mavs Trade for Warriors’ Draymond Green Could Put Luka Doncic Over The Top
The Dallas Mavericks have one of the more talented star duos in the league with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Both players are capable of going off on any given night and carrying the load on offense. However, for the Mavs to get over the hump and become a true title contender, they need another glue guy – a player to direct the defense and do the dirty work.
Rookie big man Dereck Lively II has shown some of these traits, as he's done all of the little things well enough to make an immediate impact for the Mavs this season despite only being 19 years old with less than 30 games of experience. As good as Lively has been, though, the Mavs could use one more guy like him with more experience at their starting power forward position to tie everything together.
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Cutting to the chase, Golden State Warriors four-time champion Draymond Green could be the answer. Although Green's best days are behind him at 33 years old, he's still more than capable of holding down a defense and directing traffic. Through 15 games this season, the former Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting a career-best 42.9 percent from deep.
Green is currently serving his second suspension of the season. The first one was for five games in November when he put Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert in a chokehold. The current suspension, which has caused Green to miss 10 games and counting, was due to him throwing a punch at Phoenix Suns' Jusuf Nurkic. He is currently in counseling and is suspended indefinitely until he meets the NBA and the Warriors' requirements in order to return to the court.
Long story short, it might be time for Green to have a change of scenery, and becoming the 'glue guy' for two players he admires in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas could be the best fit. The NBA trade betting odds certainly seem to think so, as the Mavs are listed as the favorites to land Green if he is traded.
With his Golden State glory days are behind him, and the Warriors not being the dominant dynasty that they once were when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were at the peak of their powers, it might finally be time for something new.
The Mavs will be looking to upgrade their starting power-forward position at this year's trade deadline according to Marc Stein. And although they do have "registered interest" in Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam, Stein hinted that he doesn't think he tops Dallas' wish list. Given the potential price weighed with the potential risk and reward, it wouldn't be shocking to us if Green is the guy on the top of that wish list.
Doncic is playing at an MVP level this season, but he still doesn't have enough consistency on this Mavs' roster to stack enough wins in order to gain more national media respect. Green could help bring that consistency to Dallas' starting five, and he could also help elevate Doncic and Irving to being a true title contender this season.
