Rumors are circulating about a trade that would send Deandre Ayton to the Mavs for Tim Hardaway Jr., Javale McGee, Josh Green and the 10th overall pick

Rumors are circulating about a trade that would send Deandre Ayton to the Mavs for Tim Hardaway Jr., Javale McGee, Josh Green and the 10th overall pick.

Multiple NBA executives expect the Dallas Mavericks to be a player for the 2018 No. 1 overall pick this summer, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.

Both squads have failed to get over the hump in recent seasons, with the Mavericks missing the playoffs altogether in 2022-23. The Suns shook their roster up at the trade deadline in February with the Kevin Durant deal, but that left Phoenix deficient in depth and tradable assets.

Ayton and Luka Doncic share an agent and reportedly have a good relationship.

Should the Mavs make a move for the Suns' big man this offseason. After finishing the 2022-23 season with a 38-44 record, the Dallas Mavericks face a need to bolster the roster around Luka Doncic. Aside from retaining impending free agent Kyrie Irving, the Mavs must find away to improve on defense and at rebounding.

For the Mavs to improve in those areas, they must find a way to improve their on-ball containment to better manage dribble penetration, while also addressing the apparent lack of rim protection. A commonly speculated option for the Mavs has been Deandre Ayton, who seems likely to be traded by the Phoenix Suns this offseason.