Mavericks must get Luka Doncic more help, but what are their options?

Nobody else in the NBA consistently carries his team as Doncic does, but he can't continue to carry this burden alone. Doncic's fellow All-Star, Kyrie Irving (23 PPG, 5.2 APG), is incredibly talented, but he remains unreliable and is now out of the lineup with a foot injury.

The rest of the roster is composed mostly of role players, including Tim Hardaway Jr. (17.4 PPG, 36.2% three-point shooting), Derrick Jones Jr. (10.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG) and Dante Exum (8.6 PPG, 42.6% three-point shooting). They have played well, but none of them will be a game-changer in the playoffs. 

So, who could Dallas add to the mix? The front office should be dialing up Toronto to deal for Pascal Siakam or Portland to trade for Jerami Grant.

With the Raptors struggling (11-16), Dallas could pry away Siakam, a two-time All-Star who is a free agent after the season. He is a proven playoff performer who averaged 19 points and 7.1 rebounds during Toronto's run to an NBA title in 2019.

Siakam is having another good season, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists, and would fit seamlessly with Dallas' two All-Stars. He's a good ball-handler capable of setting up teammates and would save Doncic from carrying a backbreaking offensive burden. 

Siakam could also help on defense. Neither Doncic nor Irving are good defenders for Dallas, which is 23rd in defensive rating (117.3). (That's the number of points allowed per 100 possessions.)

Siakam must improve on his three-point shooting — he is making only 26% of his shots from deep this season — but his career high of 36.9% in 2018-19 indicates he's capable of better.  

Grant is not the same caliber of player Siakam is, but he would be a good fit with the Mavericks, too. The Trail Blazers (7-20) signed him to a five-year, $160 million contract in the offseason, but that was when Portland was trying to convince Damian Lillard to stay. Now amid a rebuild, the Trail Blazers would probably listen to trade offers. 

Grant is averaging 22.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists, and unlike Siakam, he is a good three-point shooter (42%). 

Dallas, which missed the playoffs in 2022-23, must be aware that another disappointing end to the season could lead to a trade request from Doncic and the loss of a generational talent. He still has four years left on his contract — including a 2026-27 player option — but contract length does not deter star players from demanding trades. 

Management let Jalen Brunson walk in free agency to the New York Knicks and got little return for Kristaps Porzingis, who's now starring for the Celtics. Dallas can't afford any more such mistakes, so it should make a deal — and soon. The future of the franchise may depend on it.