NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Mavs Top 3 Backup Center Targets

With Dereck Lively II missing games due to an ankle sprain, the need for an upgrade at backup center for Dallas is evident, but who should the Mavs target?

The Dallas Mavericks drafted their center of the future in the 2023 NBA draft, selecting Duke big man Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 pick.

While Lively has played terrific, averaging 8.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 72.3 percent from the field, he's also missed six of the last 12 games due to a left ankle sprain.

Overall, Lively has missed eight games this season with the Mavs holding a 2-6 record in his absence. In those eight games, Dallas has been outrebounded by a collective 395-339 with little to no defensive presence slowing opponents down in the paint.

With Dallas' depth behind Lively being underwhelming on most nights with the likes of Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes, and the injured Maxi Kleber, head coach Jason Kidd has often opted to play small with Derrick Jones Jr. playing at the five. 

For the Mavs to add some insurance behind Lively and improve their roster for a postseason run, making a move for a backup center seems necessary prior to next month's trade deadline. With that being said, here are three trade target ideas that Dallas should pursue.

Daniel Gafford - Washington Wizards

2023-24 per game averages: 10.5 PTS, 7.6 REB, 2.1 BLK

Gafford seems to be the blueprint of the kind of backup center that Dallas should be seeking via trade, as his name has been floated as a trade target by both media and fans for a few years now. 

What Gafford does well essentially mirrors that of Lively's skillset -- rebounding, rim protection, and efficiency around the rim and in the pick-and-roll. Having another serious lob threat in Gafford would provide Luka Doncic with a high quality pick-and-roll partner at all times.

Acquiring a player like Gafford, who's been Washington's starting center all season long, may come at a higher price than other options, but having a two-headed center rotation of Lively and Gafford would supplant Dallas' presence in the paint for all 48 minutes of games going forward.

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Andre Drummond - Chicago Bulls

2023-24 per game averages: 7.3 PTS, 8.6 REB, 1.2 STL

Like Gafford, Drummond has long been mentioned as a potential target for the Mavs over the years. Drummond might not be the bouncy, rim protector that Gafford or Lively is, but he's an elite rebounder, ranking 13th all-time in rebounds per game at 12.51. 

With Nikola Vucevic out of the lineup for Chicago, Drummond has averaged 12.8 points, 17.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game in six starts.

Drummond could be efficient in the pick-and-roll with Doncic and Irving and with his underrated passing ability along with his elite-level rebounding, could be an asset off the bench for Kidd's rotation.

Kelly Olynyk - Utah Jazz

2023-24 per game averages: 8.0 PTS, 5.1 REB, 4.7 AST

Could the Mavs reunite with Olynyk for a run in the playoffs? "Reunite" is a stretch, but Dallas did indeed draft the 11th-year big man in 2013 before trading him to the Boston Celtics. 

Though Olynyk isn't necessarily the rebounding or rim protection upgrade that Gafford or Drummond would be, he'd still be an improvement over the Mavs' current backup-center options. What Olynyk brings to the table is high basketball IQ and being able to efficiently knock down shots and make plays for others.

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Per Basketball Reference, Olynyk is one of five players in the league, alongside Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Doncic, averaging a triple-double per 100 possessions. That's a pretty impressive stat for a player like Olynyk, and it shows how he's an underrated name to watch on this year's trade market.

If Dallas could add Olynyk's versatility to their center and bench rotation, their playoff roster would see an immediate improvement.

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