There are a few issues with the current Dallas Mavericks roster, and perhaps more importantly, the team is missing a true star who can consistently score 30-plus points per night with relative ease, like Luka Doncic, as well as a reliable ball handler.
Luka Doncic was both a prolific scorer and a dependable playmaker. Since his emergence, the Mavericks have been searching for a solid ball handler to complement the team, with 18-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg taking over point guard duties. However, it doesn’t make much sense to assign Flagg to the point guard role at this early stage of his career, especially given the pressure he already faces as a generational rookie with high expectations.
In the quest to strengthen their backcourt, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed an intriguing trade idea. Hughes suggests the Mavericks move on from Daniel Gafford in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for Jose Alvarado, Saddiq Bey, and a 2028 first-round pick swap.
“Daniel Gafford is easily the top player in this deal, but he’s also the Mavs’ third-best center—clearly behind Anthony Davis in the short term and nowhere near as valuable as Dereck Lively II on a longer time horizon,” Hughes explained.
He added, “Jose Alvarado hasn’t been a regular starter in any of his five years with the Pelicans, but he averaged 6.8 assists per 36 minutes last year and has shot above the league average from deep over the last two seasons combined. That kind of production would represent a major upgrade over what Dallas will trot out at the point until Kyrie Irving comes back.”
As Hughes mentioned, it’s accurate that Gafford would be the best player traded in this deal. However, the Mavericks would gain a competent ball handler in Alvarado, which is not a bad idea given their current needs.
On the other hand, it’s important to note that Alvarado is not a regular starter and might not solve all the issues facing Dallas. Throughout the 2025 season, he has had a rough start, playing just 13.8 minutes per game and averaging 3.0 points, while shooting 28.6% from the field and 27.3% from 3-point range on 2.8 attempts per game.
The Mavericks will need to weigh these factors carefully as they look to improve their roster and complement Luka Doncic’s star power.
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https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/mavericks-trade-idea-brings-in-point-guard-and-1st-round-pick-for-fan-favorite-10977590
