NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 teams who should be chasing Robert Covington

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 4: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks hugs Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after the game on December 04, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 4: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks hugs Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves after the game on December 04, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks suffered a costly loss Tuesday, as starting center Dwight Powell went down with a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. They quickly sprang into action to replace him, though, flipping the Utah Jazz’s 2020 second-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for fill-in center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Now that they’ve found Powell’s replacement, they can turn their attention to getting 20-year-old MVP candidate Luka Doncic even more help.

According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Mavericks have “made offers to the Timberwolves” for Covington, but they “have been declined” so far. O’Connor didn’t specify what the Mavericks have offered the T-Wolves, but Courtney Lee’s $12.8 million expiring contract gives them the salary-matching ammunition they’d need.

However, the Mavericks are woefully short in terms of draft picks they can offer. They sent their unprotected 2021 first-rounder and a top-10-protected 2023 first-rounder to the New York Knicks in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis, and they owe their 2020 second-rounder to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Mavericks do have the Golden State Warriors’ second-rounder this season, which should fall within the first few picks of the second round. But if the Timberwolves want a first-round pick in exchange for Covington, the Stepien Rule prevents the Mavericks from offering one until 2025 at the earliest. (Even then, it’ll be conditional based upon whether the 2023 pick conveys to the Knicks.)

Covington wouldn’t alleviate Doncic’s absurd playmaking load, but he’d be a catch-and-shoot release valve for Doncic to feed on drive-and-kicks. He would also bolster a Mavericks defense that averages the third-fewest steals per game leaguewide, adding some off-ball disruption that could spark easy fast-break opportunities.

If the Timberwolves can’t find a team willing to give up a first-rounder for Covington, Lee’s expiring contract and the Warriors’ second-round pick could be an intriguing offer. But they might prefer to hold out for something better.

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