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NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 5 trades to help the Mavericks build for a Doncic future

By Chris Manning

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 18, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 18, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 19: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball as Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

With Doncic on a rookie contract, the Mavericks have short-term cap advantage when building their team. Think of it as the NBA version of the Chiefs having Patrick Mahomes on a rookie deal –it allows them to spend more money to support their superstar before he signs a deserved mega deal. For Dallas, that means they have the rest of this year, and the next three years, with Doncic at a lower salary before he signs his first big contract. That could make them more comfortable with paying a bit more for certain players than other teams might be able to stomach.

That’s where the Grizzlies come in. They are shopping both Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and both could be of interest to the Mavericks. Gasol could be an upgrade over DeAndre for this season and next (if he opts into the last year of his deal), while Conley would give the team an All-Star level point guard to play next to Doncic.

There are injury concerns for both, and the potential two years Conley has left on his deal are worrisome if he declines or gets hurt or both. But imagine Conley in Dallas — there’s potential there for it to go great. When Doncic sits, they’d have someone capable of running the offense when Doncic sits or needs a break. And, as they look for the future, it would give the Mavericks brain trust time to decide if Jalen Brunson can fill the role longterm or acquire someone else.

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