NBA Power Rankings Week 14: NBA trade deadline recap

NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Trade deadline recap

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets at Amway Center on March 23, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

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NBA trade deadline (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks. 7. team. 79. . 23-21. Previous: 11th

Last Week: Beat Portland Trail Blazers 132-92, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 128-108, Lost to Indiana Pacers 109-94, Lost to New Orleans Pelicans 112-103

This Week: 3/29 at Oklahoma City Thunder, 3/31 at Boston Celtics, 4/2 at New York Knicks, 4/3 at Washington Wizards

Having sorely missed the white-hot shooting that Seth Curry provided the team last season, the Dallas Mavericks decided to make a move at the deadline to bolster their outside shooting for the stretch run. Dallas swapped James Johnson, Wesley Iwundu and a second-round pick for JJ Redick and Nicolo Melli.

Make no mistake, this is not the Redick of years past. So far this season he is shooting just 36.4 percent from distance (down from his career average of 41.5 percent), currently the worst mark of his 15-year career. However, the spacing is essential for a Mavericks team that bet on increasing their defensive potential this season and has seen both their defense and offense regress.

This is not a game-changing trade but the Mavericks did not need that. Luka Doncic has been playing like an MVP the last month and that is the biggest factor in what they do the rest of the season. Since March 1 Doncic has been averaging 29.1 points, 9.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game and has developed a 3-point shot (41.0 percent on 10.4 attempts per game). If this holds, adding on the periphery is the only thing the Mavericks need to do.