Trade Deadline Series: The 30,000-foot View

Part I: Setting the stage for the road to February

Photo by Tim Heitman / Getty Images

The Mavericks are navigating one of the most grueling stretches of the season, with 17 games packed into a condensed schedule before the All-Star break. Injuries to Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving—there was some positive news after yesterday’s practice that Irving might be able to return soon—have shifted the focus to survival mode, as Dallas fights to stay afloat in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

With the relentless day-to-day grind, it’s easy to get lost in the short-term battle of how to win the next game. But with less than a month until the trade deadline, it’s also the right time to zoom out and consider the bigger picture.

That’s exactly what I’ll aim to do with this Trade Deadline Series. Over the next three articles, I’ll take a top-down approach, starting today with a 30,000-foot view of the Mavericks’ roster and needs. In the next piece, we’ll narrow in on the potential ideal, dream-scenario players that could push this team toward winning the NBA title. Finally, we’ll break down more realistic trade options as we approach the deadline.

Let’s set the stage for the road to February 6th.

Assessing the current roster and contract situation

To think about potential trade deadline moves, the first step is assessing the current roster. This assessment has two parts: understanding the current contract situation and identifying key holes to fill and areas for improvement.

Let’s start with the contracts. Here’s an overview of the Mavericks’ current situation.

Source: Spotrac

I’m not a big CBA expert, so I won’t dive too deeply into contract details or machinations. However, looking at the big picture, it’s clear that the 2026 offseason will be a major milestone. Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell are all set to become unrestricted free agents if not extended before then. My guess is that Irving’s extension, and possibly even Washington’s, will get done before that point. The key takeaway is that the roster and contracts are largely set for this season and next.

That said, there are some interesting decisions looming sooner. This summer, Quentin Grimes will hit restricted free agency, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Dante Exum are set to become unrestricted free agents. These decisions will add layers to how the Mavericks approach the trade deadline and future roster planning.

Strategically, the Mavericks’ timeline can be split into two key periods:

• Short-to-mid-term (next 2-3 years): Focused on contending for a title by building around Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving while taking advantage of Dereck Lively II’s rookie contract. The key premise here is to maximize the current title window with Irving’s peak hopefully lasting at least another two years.

• Long-term outlook (from 2026 and beyond): Preparing for the next phase by planning for Dončić’s next extension, Lively’s eventual extension, identifying a long-term replacement for Irving, and building the next iteration of the Mavericks centered around Dončić and Lively.

My focus in this series will be on the short-to-mid-term, specifically on how to maximize the Mavericks’ chances of winning a title in the next 1-2 years.

Current roster and areas for potential upgrades

Before talking about potential upgrades, let’s recognize that this is the most complete Mavericks team in recent years—one that was on pace to win 58 games before injuries hit.

The biggest upgrade right now is simply getting healthy. Bringing back Irving, Dončić, and even Exum—who could fill some gaps I’ll discuss later—makes this a title-contending team. Talent-wise, they may still be slightly below the Celtics and OKC, but they have a chance to pull off an upset.

From a big-picture perspective, the foundation of this team is clear. The Mavericks currently have three cornerstone players: Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II. Add P.J. Washington to the mix as a fourth piece, a clear starter and core rotation player, one of the leaders, and someone the Mavericks would only consider moving in a major deal or significant upgrade.

Based on this outlook, the key to improving the roster is finding a fifth starter who fits well and addresses the team’s current problem areas. You might ask—wasn’t Klay Thompson, the big offseason signing, brought in to be that player? While Thompson has been a valuable addition and a joy to watch in his short time with the Mavericks, taking the next step likely means convincing the soon-to-be 35-year-old to embrace a new role as a sixth-man spark plug scorer off the bench.