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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, and a reliable ball handler. More news: Mavericks Announce Anthony Davis News Before Pistons Game Doncic was both. The Mavericks have been trying to find a ball handler, with 18-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg taking over the point guard duties. It doesn’t make much sense to make Flagg a point guard at this stage of his career, as he’s already facing the pressure of being a generational rookie with high expectations. DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 11: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks gives instructions to his team during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at American Airlines Center on April 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. When searching for ways for the Mavericks to improve on the point guard front, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed an intriguing trade. His trade idea would move on from Daniel Galford 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… “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,” he wrote. As Hughes mentioned, it’s 100 percent accurate that Gafford would be the best player traded in this deal, but the Mavericks would also have a competent ball handler in Alvarado, which might not be a bad idea. More news: Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg Makes NBA History in Win Over Raptors However, it’s also important to note that Alvarado isn’t a starter and may not resolve all the issues the Mavericks are facing. Throughout the 2025 season, he’s had a rough start, playing in just 13.8 minutes per game and averaging 3.0 points, all while shooting 28.6% from the field and 27.3% from 3-point range on 2.8 attempts per game. For all the latest on the Mavericks and NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
