3 Sneaky Good Trades That Could Provide Dallas Mavericks Exactly What They Need

The Dallas Mavericks have struggled to start their 2025-2026 NBA season, winning only two of their first five games. The team lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the season opener, the Washington Wizards, and the defending champions OKC Thunder, to start the year.

In their losses, the team saw numerous holes in their roster on both the frontcourt and the backcourt.

The Mavericks have also struggled with injuries, including Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II.

Considering the struggles they have faced to start the season, here are three trade targets the Mavericks could consider with the hopes of bouncing back from a rocky start.

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1.) T.J. McConnell

T.J. McConnell was a revelation for the Indiana Pacers in their NBA Finals run last season, providing instant impact on both ends of the floor despite limited minutes off the bench.

Targeting him via trade would be beneficial for the Mavericks as the team looks to remain afloat while waiting for the return of star guard Kyrie Irving, who tore his ACL late last season.

McConnell could also help Flagg in developing a scrappy identity on both ends of the floor, raising his ceiling as a two-way player for the Mavericks.

As shown in last season's playoffs, McConnell can be a plug-and-play players for the Mavericks, potentially helping them reach the postseason this year.

2. Nikola Vucevic

Nikola Vucevic would be a massive get for the Mavericks, if they could engineer a trade for him this season.

Vucevic would add depth to the Mavericks' frontcourt, especially considering the injuries of Davis, Gafford, and Lively this season.

Vucevic would add another offensive dynamic to head coach Jason Kidd's playbook, allowing him to be more complex on his offense by having a shooting threat among his frontcourt players.

3. Isaiah Joe

Isaiah Joe has been one of the most consistent shooters of the defending champions OKC Thunder.

If the Mavericks pulled off a deal with the Thunder, Joe could be a valuable floor-spacing role player for Dallas, impacting some of the team's best ball-handlers and stars such as Irving, Flagg, and Davis.

Adding Joe to the Mavericks, whose squad already has Klay Thompson, would be a massive boost to the team's three-point shooting, giving them a variety of options on their offensive arsenal.

Edited by Rob Andrew Lo