The Mavericks’ search for a third scorer has become impossible to ignore after Thursday night’s 39-point loss to the Timberwolves, and that need is now sitting right at the center of any trade discussion in Dallas.
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving didn’t get nearly enough help in that loss to Minnesota, even with Anthony Edwards out, and the Mavericks’ supporting cast once again failed to provide a reliable scoring lift. Through 12 games, that’s been the story: Dallas has no steady third option who can step in and take pressure off its stars.
Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington are the only other Mavericks averaging more than 10 points per game, and neither one profiles as the kind of shot creator who can solve this on his own.
What Dallas really needs is someone who can score first and ask questions later - a player who can punish defenses when they load up on Kyrie and Coop, create his own shot, and hit open threes when the ball swings his way. That’s the type of piece that would actually change how opponents defend this team.
That’s why Dejounte Murray’s trade request, which came less than 24 hours after the Minnesota loss, is at least worth a look on the surface. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the New Orleans Pelicans guard has officially asked out, and his career line - 15.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game - gives him obvious appeal.
Even if he’s no longer the All-Star-level player he was with the San Antonio Spurs, Murray still brings playmaking, defense, and slashing in his tenth season. He’d also give Dallas someone who could steer the offense when Flagg and Irving are sitting.
But that’s where the fit starts to fall apart.
The Mavericks shouldn’t be chasing Murray. He’s owed more than $63.5 million over the next two seasons, with a player option for 2027-28, and Dallas doesn’t need to be spending that kind of money on a player in his 30s who has had trouble staying on the floor. He played just 45 games combined over the previous two seasons before this one, and the Mavericks already have enough injury issues to manage.
There’s also the basketball side of it, and that’s the bigger problem. Murray can create offense with his finishing, burst, and mid-range game, but he doesn’t do much without the ball.
Dallas already has two players who want the ball in their hands: Flagg and Irving. Adding another guard who wants touches would only complicate things.
The shooting is the final strike against the idea. Murray has hit just 30 percent from three on 4.9 attempts per game over the last three seasons, and that kind of jumper doesn’t really fit next to two players who like to get downhill. The Mavericks’ spacing is already shaky, and Murray’s outside shot wouldn’t help that one bit.
If Dallas does make a move before the February trade deadline, it should be for someone who fits Flagg’s timeline, not a veteran on a pricey deal. The Pelicans and Murray are trying to find a resolution to his request, so a deal could happen soon. But for the Mavericks, the answer to their glaring need is not Dejounte Murray.
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Mavericks Blowout Loss Exposed A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Mavericks had a decent opening stretch against Minnesota, but it did not last long. The Timberwolves, playing without Anthony Edwards because of a knee injury, steadily took control and turned the game into a lopsided 133-94 loss, building a big cushion by halftime and never letting Dallas back into it. Several Mavericks struggled to find any rhythm as the night slipped away, leaving the kind of result that sticks with a team long after the final buzzer.
Caleb Martin was one of the few Dallas players who offered anything resembling a positive sign, giving the staff at least one usable takeaway from an otherwise ugly performance. But the broader issue was hard to miss: when the game tilted, the Mavericks had no real answer, and that is the sort of problem that becomes impossible to ignore when a loss gets this out of hand. [Read more 🡒]