NBA Rumors: Mavs Eyeing 'Impact' Perimeter Defender; Herb Jones Trade Unlikely

The Dallas Mavericks have weighed whether to target "an impact perimeter defender" prior to the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Christian Clark.

If that's a path the Mavs pursue, Clark removed one prospective candidate from the board, reporting "there is little belief in NBA circles" the New Orleans Pelicans would move forward Herb Jones.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Dec. 10 that teams have shown increasing interest in players on the Pelicans roster, Jones included, with the team off to such a dreadful start. However, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer followed up on Dec. 15 to report New Orleans was "naturally resistant" to any offers for the 26-year-old.

For the Mavericks, improving their perimeter defense ahead of the deadline would make sense because that's always going to be a concern as long as their squad is oriented around Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Neither is a good defender, leaving Dallas vulnerable at the point of attack.

The Mavs currently sit 11th in defensive rating (110.8), which is up from an 18th-place finish in 2023-24, per NBA.com. They beefed up their perimeter defense in the offseason by adding Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall, while Dereck Lively II is continuing to improve as a rim protector into his second season.

Still, navigating through the Western Conference in the playoffs means facing some combination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker. Whoever wins the East will boast a formidable backcourt as well.

Upgrading their defense may not be a bad idea for the Mavericks.