assembling the best starting five players for the Dallas Mavericks following the trade deadline

After 34 games, the Dallas Mavericks are sitting at 19-15 following back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers followed by awin against the Golden State Warriors and a loss to the Utah Jazz.

Dallas had a chance to win both of these games against Minnesota and Cleveland, things just didn’t go their way down the stretch, causing them to lose. The Mavs are in a great position to contend this season, considering they have had several injuries to key role players and star Kyrie Irving, but they may need to make at least one move to solidify themselves as NBA Finals contenders.

There are still a few holes on the roster, including backup big man, and the Mavs could use the trade market to strengthen their roster for the final push heading into the playoffs.

Crafting the Dallas Mavericks’ ideal 5-man starting lineup after the trade deadline

The Mavs aren’t far away, and one or two moves could be all it takes to make them a team that is playing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy this season.

Here I craft the Dallas Mavericks’ ideal starting lineup after the trade deadline.

5. Point guard: Luka Doncic

Surprise, surprise.

Luka Doncic remains as the Dallas Mavericks’ point guard.

Doncic is having a career season, and Mavs fans should be excited about his future with this team. He is just scratching the surface as he still hasn’t entered his prime yet, and the Mavs shouldn’t trade him under any circumstance.

This season, Doncic is averaging 33.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He is dominating offensively with ease, with his biggest improvement being his 3-point shooting. Doncic is shooting a career-high 38.4 percent from downtown, and is making 4.0 3-pointers per game.

His improvement as a shooter has been massive, but he has also improved in every other area of his game. Doncic has become a solid defender this season, with a big reason for this being his increased focus on conditioning over the summer.

Doncic is still someone who occasionally gets picked on in the pick and roll, but he has been eager to take on the challenge. He is no longer a liability on the defensive end, and the Mavs should continue to build around him and the player that will be mentioned next.