Dallas Mavs Rumors: 3 Players Picked as ‘Top NBA Trade Candidates’

There’s a little more than two months remaining until the NBA trade deadline, and HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto has identified two Dallas Mavericks as being top trade candidates between now and then.

With the calendar turning to December, NBA trade rumors and speculation will surely ramp up, as each team is nearly 20 games into the season and has a good feel for what their biggest needs are.

After making several offseason moves, the Dallas Mavericks have experienced a successful start to the season, as they’re 11-6 and fourth in the Western Conference heading into Friday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been the catalysts for Dallas’ start, and the key additions of Dereck Lively II, Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. have made a significant impact as well. However, the team still has some areas that could use improvement with the trade deadline a little more than two months away.

According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Mavs have three players that could be considered top trade candidates in the coming months.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is a strong candidate to win Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 16.8 points and shooting 38.4 percent from deep off the Dallas Mavericks’ bench / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

“The Dallas Mavericks have improved this season after offseason signings of Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. and the selection of Dereck Lively in the draft,” Scotto wrote.

“Should the Mavericks look to upgrade, Tim Hardaway Jr. would likely be among the trade candidates, given his production as one of the top bench scorers this season and tradeable salary ($17.9 million).”

Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16.8 points per game off the Mavs’ bench, and he’s shooting 38.4 percent from deep (8.9 attempts per game). He has meant a lot to Dallas’ early-season success, providing an offensive spark when others are having off nights. Although he can be streaky, Hardaway is a solid player that should be viewed favorably on the trade market given his production and manageable contract.

If the Mavs do decide to move on from Hardaway, they need to focus on upgrading the frontcourt. Dallas ranked dead-last in rebounding last season and 25th in defensive rating. Although both areas have slightly improved with the arrivals of Lively, Williams and Jones — the Mavs are currently 23rd in rebounding and 24th in defensive rating — the team still needs more size and versatility, especially when it comes to backup bigs behind Lively.

“With a surplus of big men on the roster, Richaun Holmes and Maxi Kleber could also become frontcourt trade candidates in the months to come,” Scotto wrote.

Mavs Among NBA Teams With ‘Registered Trade Interest’ in Nets' Finney-Smith

The Mavs were linked to several players in trade rumors over the offseason, including Atlanta Hawks’ veteran big man Clint Capela, who is currently averaging 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game. Dallas was also reported as having “registered interest” in Dorian Finney-Smith, who they traded in a package for Irving in February, earlier this week.

The Mavs might not end up making plays for those two players specifically, but finding a way to land another big and 3-and-D wing should be a priority for GM Nico Harrison over the next few months in order to maximize Dallas’ title chances.