Dallas Mavericks: 3 ways to fix their 3-point shooting

1. Trading for a star that can shoot

If the Mavericks’ front office wants to lean heavily into Dallas’ identity as a team built on perimeter shooting, it would be in their best interest to trade for a star that can light it up from deep.

When discussing stars that could be moved, Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal are the first to come to mind. There isn’t any indication that either shooting guard is looking for a new home or that their teams are shopping them but Dallas should inquire about them anyway. Both players can operate by themselves and provide floor spacing when they’re off the ball.

The numbers speak for themselves. Beal leads the league in scoring at 34.8 points per game and can create his own shot from anywhere. Even though his 35.7 3-point percentage is below average, he commands serious defensive attention. LaVine averages 26.5 points and shoots 40.1 percent from deep, making 3.4 triples per game.

Porzingis would likely have to be moved for a player of their caliber. But it certainly won’t happen right now. His trade value is shot due to his injury history and flat out bad performance this season. He needs to get back on track for his trade value to build up.

It would be best for Dallas to keep Porzingis and create a big three with him, Doncic and another star but it might not work out that way. The Mavericks would need to bring in a third team to garner enough assets to pry away someone like LaVine or Beal.

One realistic target could be Victor Oladipo. Although his playstyle isn’t based around 3-point shooting – he’s a slasher that shoots a decently high volume from deep on near-average efficiency – his cost is rather low since he’s an unrestricted free agent. He’s shooting over 40 percent on catch-and-shoot triples this season. Dallas runs the risk of losing him after this season but could be rewarded handsomely if they convince him to sign long-term.

While trading for a third star would be the most difficult option to pull off, it’s the one that would help the Dallas Mavericks the most. A team with three high-level scorers, especially with one as talented as Doncic leading the way, is a fearsome beast.