Top 5 Likeliest Trade Partners for the Dallas Mavericks on Draft Day

With the 2013 NBA draft just 10 days away, 28 NBA teams are preparing for the offseason's biggest night, and the other two will join them soon once their quest for a championship is completed.

Although there are certainly some high-quality players available, many are regarding the 2013 draft class to be one of the weakest in recent memory. 

The Dallas Mavericks could have used a stronger one.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, the Mavericks are in need of more pieces if they want to get back into the playoffs, much less the NBA Finals.

Ever since the lottery balls didn't fall their way, there have been rumors that the team is looking to shop their 13th overall pick to the highest bidder to save cap room to go after high-profile free agents.

At the tail end of the lottery, the 13th pick still has a high value, and there likely will be plenty of teams inquiring about that pick in the next week and a half and on draft night itself.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

Currently, the Los Angeles Lakers do not have a first-round pick in this year's NBA draft.

The team barely snuck into the playoffs and was bounced by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round after losing Kobe Bryant to an injury.

There is a very good chance they won't be able to hang on to Dwight Howard in the offseason, so the Lakers may need to find pieces in other places to help them rebuild.

In return, the Lakers do have some capable bench players, and the No. 48 pick in the draft. Jordan Hill is a solid backup big man, something the Mavs are in need of, and even Metta World Peace could be an option to try to improve the Mavericks' shoddy defensive numbers. 

4. Golden State Warriors

To one-up the Lakers, the Golden State Warriors actually have no picks in this year's draft at this current moment.

However, after making it all the way to the second round of the NBA playoffs and pushing the Spurs to six games, the Warriors have to be feeling optimistic about the direction of their franchise.

That's why it may make sense for them to try to trade into the lottery to gain another piece for their young, dynamic roster.

A big man like Rudy Gobert or even Cody Zeller could be on the board at pick No. 13, and that could very much intrigue the Warriors, who are relying on often hurt Andrew Bogut to hold down their center position.

The Mavericks could be potential trade partners as they continue to look to build cap space for the offseason.

3. Detroit Pistons

Although much of the trade talk for the Mavericks has been about trading down in this year's draft, there is always a chance that Mark Cuban and company throw us a curveball and actually try to trade up to pick out a player they like.

If they do so, it would make sense for them to target the Detroit Pistons' selection of No. 8 in the 2013 draft.

Moving up to No. 8 wouldn't carry the price tag of a top-five pick and it would also give the Mavericks plenty of options. Perhaps a point guard like Trey Burke could even fall to that spot and give the Mavs their lead man for the future.

The issue is that the Mavs don't have a ton of tradable pieces that would interest Detroit. However, if they are creative enough, it's certainly plausible for the Mavs to move up, and a team like the Pistons needs as much help and as many pieces as they can get moving forward.

2. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix  Suns were one of the worst teams in the Western Conference this past season and will be looking to make steady improvements on draft night.

The reason why Phoenix is a likely trade partner with the Dallas Mavericks is that they have multiple picks Dallas could covet.

If the Mavericks really wanted to move up, the Suns posses the No. 5 pick, which Dallas could be interested in. 

If they wanted to move down, Phoenix has the No. 30 pick as well as a late second-rounder to use in a potential trade with the Mavs.

Two lottery selections could be just what the Suns needed to revamp their franchise, and with the Mavericks potentially looking to get out of that spot, it would seem like a perfect match.

1. Brooklyn Nets

With new head coach Jason Kidd coming in, the Brooklyn Nets are no doubt looking to make big moves this offseason to try to get their team the extra pieces they need to be serious contenders in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets currently hold pick No. 22 in the first round, but it's unlikely they will find any player ready to make a significant impact that late in the first round.

However, if they were to move up, they may very well be able to find that missing piece with the 13th pick.

Dallas could target MarShon Brooks, a young player with a lot of potential in that deal, or a player like Mirza Teletovic, who can come off the bench and score from the outside to go along with the 22nd pick.

Don't be surprised at all to see Brooklyn move up in the draft this year, and if they do so, watch for the Mavericks to be potential trading partners.