NBA Rumors: With eyes on Kyle Kuzma, the Dallas Mavericks could try to sign him away from Washington Wizards during the offseason.
Luka Doncic may currently be the second-best player in the NBA right now. He may soon be the best player in the league. And as long as that is the case, the Dallas Mavericks are going to be in a championship window. But in order for the Mavs to capitalize on that, the front office needs to continue to place the right players next to Luka.
For as great of a player as he is, he isn’t going to be able to win a championship on his own in Dallas.
One difference-maker that the Mavs were hoping to pursue (according to a recent report) at the NBA Trade Deadline was Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma. He’d add a different offensive element to the Mavs and could help the team take a step forward in the West. Unfortunately, he’s likely not going to be moved at the trade deadline. Not after the Wizards traded Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers.
But Kuzma is going to be a free agent after this season and despite the Wizards’ plans to re-sign Kuzma, from all indications he seems set on testing the free agency waters. If so, the Mavs are likely going to explore the option of signing him away from Washington.
Should the Dallas Mavericks sit out the NBA Trade Deadline?
There’s an argument to be made that perhaps the Mavs should stand pat at the NBA Trade Deadline and wait until the offseason to make a big move. Though, with rumors circulating that Luka is pushing the Mavs to make a move at the deadline, that could prove to be difficult.
The big question surrounding the Mavs is whether they should try to make a move now (which would probably entail taking on salary) or try to shed salary at the deadline (somewhat as a seller) to make extra cap room heading into free agency during the offseason?
There are advantages and disadvantages to both but it’s difficult to predict what exactly the Mavs are going to do. If there’s not a difference-maker available, it would be tough to see this team part ways with meaningful assets just for the sake of making a move.
At the same rate, I think it would be extremely difficult for the front office to justify not making a move at the deadline to Luka and the rest of the roster that is trying to take a step forward from last year’s appearance in the Western Conference Finals.
The Mavs are in a tight spot. But it may be in the team’s best interest to wait until the offseason to pursue a player such as Kyle Kuzma, especially if the Wizards refuse to shop him at the NBA Trade Deadline.