Trade Deadline Series: The Ultimate Guide to the Wing Trade Options

Part II: The best, most realistic, and under-the-radar options

Photo by SOPA Images / Getty Images

Boy, how quickly things can turn in the NBA.

Just two weeks ago, I shared the first article in our Trade Deadline Series, The 30,000-Foot View, starting with a strategic look at the Mavericks’ roster and needs.

The plan was simple: evaluate ideal targets, transition to realistic options, and build a trade roadmap. But injuries to Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and most importantly Dereck Lively II, have upended not just my plans but likely the Mavericks' entire approach to the trade deadline.

In the first article, I identified the small forward—or more specifically, the wing defender role—as the most glaring hole to address around the Mavericks’ core of Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington. Today, I’ll dive into the extensive list of options for filling that need.

However, I also noted the stretch four or five role as a secondary priority. With injuries to Lively and Maxi Kleber, that need has become more urgent, complicating the Mavericks' trade deadline strategy and making potential deals far more challenging to execute.

Not only are decisions more complex, but injuries to key big men also make transactions harder. The players with the most tradable contracts—Kleber, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson—all present significant hurdles. Kleber is injured, Gafford is the only healthy big left, and Thompson, the summer’s marquee acquisition, isn’t someone the Mavericks want to part with.

So, let's dig into the wing options, and I'll go over the backup 4/5 options in one of the next articles in the series.

What the Mavericks need in a wing

In the first article of this series, I outlined the essential skills for the Mavericks’ ideal wing: point-of-attack defense, defensive versatility, athleticism, length, and shooting. These attributes are critical for complementing the core four of Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington in the starting lineup.

Among these, point-of-attack defense stands out as the top priority. Slowing down elite guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Ja Morant, or Jamal Murray—key future playoff obstacles—should take precedence over defending bigger wings like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or LeBron James. P.J. Washington is better suited to handle those matchups.

Length and athleticism, which the Mavericks have lacked since Derrick Jones Jr. opted to sign with Los Angeles, are vital for covering the gaps around Dončić and Irving.

Shooting remains a premium skill in today’s NBA, and a requirement for spacing the floor effectively. Adding a player with some self-creation ability—a dribble-drive game—would be an ideal bonus. This skill, as seen in the Finals against the Celtics’ elite defense, was what the Mavericks missed as a crucial step toward the ultimate goal: winning a championship.

Unrealistic, but let’s dream for a moment

Finding a player who possesses all of these skills is a nearly impossible task. If someone fits the bill, they’re more likely to be a superstar than a role player. Think prime Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, or the next generation of versatile wings like Jaylen Brown or Jalen Williams.

The only current player remotely close to this profile on the trade market is Jimmy Butler. However, his nearly $50 million per year salary, extension demands, and history of off-court antics make him a highly unrealistic option for Dallas.

Even with the next wave of players—elite role players and great defenders—you have to start making compromises. Guards like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jalen Suggs, or Andrew Nembhard might not play the ideal position, but they bring the type of point-of-attack defense and complementary playmaking skills that would fit perfectly next to Dončić.

On the other hand, elite on-ball defenders like Lu Dort, Dillon Brooks, and Dyson Daniels struggle with streaky shooting and/ limited on ball skills. The same applies to top-tier wing defenders like OG Anunoby, Jaden McDaniels, or young prodigies such as the Thompson twins in Houston and Detroit. All of these players would elevate the Mavericks defense significantly, but unfortunately, none of them appear to be realistic trade options.

Very intriguing, very unlikely