The Dallas Mavericks entered this season with high expectations. With Luka Doncic, Kistaps Porzingis, and new coach Jason Kidd leading the way, it's no surprise that fans were hopeful for a dominant season.
Sadly, the Mavs have not yet lived up to that standard and it has them pegged as buyers ahead of the 2022 trade deadline.
Among the many names who could help them move forward, Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus named Marcus Smart as a potential target for the Mavs.
One dark-horse team mentioned as being interested in Grant was the Dallas Mavericks, with Dorian Finney-Smith and probably Dwight Powell as the primary pieces. The Mavericks have also been linked to Collins in Atlanta and Marcus Smart in Boston.
Smart, 27, has been considered a core member of the Celtics since he was drafted in 2014. Besides being a solid ball-handler, Smart is most known for his incredible perimeter defense, which is often pegged as one of the best in the league.
But after 7 failed seasons, it appears that Boston might be ready to move on.
“It’s to build around Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum, not to break those two up,” Woj said on NBA Today. “The hard part for Boston is what are the other tradeable assets that they’re willing to move on from? They don’t want to trade Robert Williams, their young center. That’s a player that they really see at the center of what they’re doing moving forward. But I think Marcus Smart, some of the young players on the roster, second- and third-year guards/forwards, I think they’re seeing what the value for those players out there. Josh Richardson, but I’m not sure. Dennis Schroder — that’s a player I think if they can keep building up his value. … I think those are all players available on the marketplace.”
The Mavericks have never been a particularly good defensive team, and that holds true for this season as well.
Marcus Smart could be the start of improving their performance on that end of the floor. At the very least, his presence would take pressure off of Doncic and give the Mavericks some additional depth in the backcourt.
Whatever happens with Smart this season, it's clear that he is a highly coveted asset by teams around the association. If the day comes when he leaves the Celtics, he should have plenty of suitors waiting.
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