DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - The Dallas Mavericks have been showing signs of a resurgence over the last week, winning three out of their last four games, including Monday night's 127-122 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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However, that doesn't mean that the recent problems plaguing the Mavericks have been alleviated, or that they can't find a way to get better.
For example, Dallas is in desperate need of a secondary playmaker, who can not only get his his own shots and create for others, but defend as well.
On Tuesday's edition of the K&C Masterpiece, 105.3 the Fan's Mike Bacsik brought up a trade scenario for that very type of player, in Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors.
So, who says no to this trade idea?
Mavericks get: Kyle Lowry
Raptors get: James Johnson, Dwight Powell, Josh Green, Tyrell Terry, 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected)
Why does this make sense for the Mavs? The case for the Mavericks is logical: You add a guy who can help you immediately on both ends of the floor, as well as in the locker room and does not hamstring you financially due to his expiring contract. Offensively, Lowry is a player who can give the Mavs the secondary ball-handling and shot creation that they need alongside Luka, while also being a bulldog on the defensive end of the floor, and a fantastic locker room presence. The deal would also give the Mavs additional cap space heading into next offseason, should Lowry not re-sign.
Why does this make sense for Toronto? Like the Mavericks, the Raptors are struggling to find their footing at the moment, sitting at 11-13 in the East. Toronto has won four out of their last five games, however, including wins over the Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies. That said, the direction of the franchise is cloudy at best, and with the team already heavily invested in young stars like Pascal Siakam (4-year $130 million deal) and Fred Van Fleet (4-year $85 million deal), both of whom are signed through the 2023-24 season, there is little room left for a 33-year old Lowry on the books going forward.
Why do the Mavericks say no? The case against this transaction for Dallas is substantial. Perhaps more substantial than the argument for it. The Mavs do need Lowry's skill set, but the cost of this trade as currently constructed would be, to say the least, an overpay. In this scenario, Dallas would be mortgaging its future for a rental of a 33-year-old player on a gradual decline, that is not capable of putting them on par with the top teams in the Western Conference. Moreover, while it helps the Mavs in certain areas, the exit of Johnson and Green also hurts their defensive toughness and athleticism on the perimeter -- something that has been a major need for them in recent years.
Why do the Raptors say no? Kyle Lowry has been the heart and soul of the Raptors franchise for nine seasons. He helped bring the city of Toronto its first championship in two decades and has been a model player and teammate over that time. But, more importantly than that, he is certain to fetch a much higher price from a team that is much more desperate for veteran guard play than the Dallas Mavericks. Lowry, despite his age, can still be a piece for a borderline-contender to add to the roster to make an over-the-top push towards a title. In fact, recent reports suggest that the Boston Celtics, a top tier contender in the East, could be up to something... could Toronto be in line for a Kemba Walker/Kyle Lowry swap? Boston certainly has more ammo to offer than the Mavericks at this point, and Celtics GM Danny Ainge is known for making deals happen.
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Dallas is certainly in need to a shot in the arm to help put this season back on track, but is Kyle Lowry really the player that is going to make that happen? Both immediately and in the future, for both franchises, the answer to that question would likely be a no.