NBA Rumors: Insider Links Mavericks To Pistons Trade Package

The Dallas Mavericks are looking for an upgrade come the trade deadline, hoping, specifically, to bring in a No. 2 scorer behind Luka Doncic. Which makes them a leading pursuer of a Detroit Pistons trade package.

 "It's hard for Dallas right now to get the kind of co-star they would want — a legitimate No. 2 player, or a No. 3 player next to Christian Wood, in the trade market," says NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski. But he suggests that the Pistons might have the answer for them. 

I think the kind of players the Mavs are knocking on the door on, like a lot of other teams, look in Detroit: Bojan Bodanovic, Nerlens Noel. That’s a tandem that could be in a package together. Certainly, the shooting of Bogdanovic, his ability to complement (Luka) Doncic, like he would a lot of contending teams.

Woj adds that because the Pistons' sharpshooter has already signed a 2-year extension, it would make him more appealing to teams like the Mavericks, as he wouldn't be a flight risk. 

The Mavs, of course, lost their No. 2 scorer, Jalen Brunson, this past offseason in free agency, when he fled for the New York Knicks for 4-years, $104M. He's currently averaging 22.6 points per game, exactly what Dallas could use right about now.

Bogdanovic is averaging a career-high 21.2 points for Detroit — a career-high — while shooting 41.5% from deep. 

Noel hasn't been getting much run for the Pistons this season, but the center can still be a formidable rim-protector as he's shown in small spurts. 

Woj adds that Dallas will be "very active" in the trade marketplace. 

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