Indiana Pacers: Ranking the best teams to trade with in the offseason

Ideal trade partner for the Indiana Pacers: Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have been largely successful so far with superstar Luka Doncic manning the show, but with their current supporting cast around the Slovenian phenom, they are quite difficult to picture as inarguable championship contenders.

Beyond their MVP candidate, only Kristaps Porzingis possesses upside as an undeniable franchise cornerstone. The rest of their key players are solid players in their own right, but lack the necessary talent to definitively catapult Dallas atop the West, especially with the conference housing a bevy of teams that each possesses championship potential.

Much of the Mavericks’ shortcoming have been on defense and a dearth of reliable secondary playmaking. The Indiana Pacers have two centers who have varying, yet tremendous skillsets, as well as backcourt cogs who have proven themselves as above-average talents. With their needs overlapping, the two teams may be slated to eventually cross paths in the trade market.

Possible pieces on the move: Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, Tim Hardaway Jr. (sign-and trade)