The Dallas Mavericks have been rumored to be a team that looks to improve their roster. According to The Athletic’s Christian Clark, the Mavs have contemplated adding a perimeter defender. Someone who could serve as a defensive stopper to help the lapses of their stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on that end of the floor.
The NBA reporter linked the Mavs to the New Orleans Pelicans wing, Herb Jones. Jones has built a reputation as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league. Last season, he made the All-Defensive First Team for the first time. In 2022, he was part of the All-Defensive Second Team.
However, Clark revealed that there isn’t much faith the Pelicans are willing to trade the 6-foot-7 forward.
“The Mavericks have contemplated trying to add an impact perimeter defender before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, front-office sources on rival teams told The Athletic. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones, who last season was the only non-center to make the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team, is one player who fits that description. But there is little belief in NBA circles that the Pelicans will actually move him,” Clark wrote.
Herb Jones is a potential trade target for the Dallas Mavericks, per @cclark_13
“The Mavericks have contemplated trying to add an impact perimeter defender before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, front-office sources on rival teams told The Athletic. The New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb… pic.twitter.com/7usurbRCkC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 1, 2025
In December, Insider Marc Stein revealed the Pelicans are open to trading most of their players. However, they named Jones, along with rookie big man Yves Messi and versatile wing Trey Murphy III, as untouchables.
“While naturally resistant to trade inquiries for their younger gems — Herb Jones, rookie Yves Missi, and Trey Murphy III — word is that the Pelicans are essentially open to trade pitches for pretty much anyone else on the roster apart from those three amid a 5-21 start and more injury woes than even Philadelphia,” Stein wrote.
How has the Dallas Mavericks performed defensively?
The Dallas Mavericks have had their fair share of struggles in the 2024-25 NBA season. One of the problems they faced early in the season was their defensive awareness. A clip of the team’s defensive lapse against the Utah Jazz went viral.
In the clip, Doncic failed to cover Utah’s John Collins in a crucial moment during the fourth quarter.
CLARKSON TO COLLINS FOR THE LEAD 🤯
Jazz up 2… 6.4 seconds left on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/w04Ltwtk4E
— NBA (@NBA) November 15, 2024
However, Dallas has gradually improved their defense and is 11th in the league in defensive rating with 110.8. The team has been better defensively, even after 33 games. Last season, the Mavs finished the season with a defensive rating of 114.9. The team ranked 18th on defense.
Nevertheless, the team outperformed everyone and advanced to the Finals.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
