The Dallas Mavericks shouldn’t trade for Miami Heat veteran Small Forward Jimmy Butler, also known as “Jimmy Buckets.” Butler, 35, has been playing for the Heat since 2022. Butler’s previous NBA teams include the Chicago Bulls from 2011-2017, the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2017-2018, and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2018 –2019.
Butler is best known for his six-year tenure with the Bulls and is a six-time NBA All-Star, four-time All-NBA Third Team, and five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Butler has ties to Texas, as he was born in Houston, and raised in Tomball, a suburb of Houston. He attended Tyler Junior College in Tyler before transferring to Marquette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Butler’s ties shouldn’t spark a trade. Here’s why.
Bleacher Report and the Lowly Dallas Mavericks
Bleacher Report recently listed the Dallas Mavericks as “one of the worst landing spots” for Jimmy Butler. Butler, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound big man, is a star forward, but the Mavericks should refuse a trade with the 35-year-old. Butler is a good if not great, NBA player, but he likely wouldn’t complement the Mavericks’ roster, which was arguably built to complement their star players in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Bleacher Report wrote, “If it wasn’t clear already, the way the team has played while Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are both out has proven this supporting cast is good enough for the Dallas Mavericks to contend for a championship … And beyond the talent this front office has assembled in Dallas, the “other” guys fit Luka and Kyrie almost perfectly.”
Bleacher Report continued, “The two stars can dominate the ball in the middle of the floor or play off each other, while the rest of the roster is loaded with three-and-D versatility and two of the league’s better rim-running big men … Sacrificing any portion of that for a past-his-prime wing who’ll take ball-handling possessions away from Luka and Kyrie — two of the game’s best offensive players — doesn’t make sense, even if Butler is better in a vacuum than any of Dallas’ current role players.”
The Current State Of the Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks’ current state seems to stick with their current roster, which compliments their star backcourt duo of Doncic and Irving. Doncic, 25, and Irving, 32, have been described as the NBA’s most talented backcourt by some. Others say the discussion involving the pair is premature, as they’ve only been playing together as teammates for 15 months at the time of writing.
Butler can be described as a man of many talents, such as scoring, passing, and consistency. However, Butler likely wouldn’t improve the Mavericks’ current playing style. If the Mavericks inserted Butler into their starting lineup, Butler’s presence could cause disruption and possibly disrupt the team’s flow. Butler should sign with another Western Conference team, like the Sacramento Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, or the Phoenix Suns.
Final Thoughts
The Dallas Mavericks should shift their focus to the New Orleans Pelicans Small Forward Herb Jones. Jones, 26, is a 6-foot-7, 206-pound big man playing for the Pelicans since 2021. Jones was selected with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft out of the University of Alabama, where he played college men’s basketball from 2017-2021.
Since Jimmy Butler would take some, if not most, ball-handling possessions from Doncic and Irving, Dallas should take another look at Jones. Jones’s name isn’t very flashy, but the 26-year-old is a defensive ace who will likely compliment the likes of Doncic and Irving. Also, Jones’ talents, such as defense, passing, and shooting, showcase his defensive prowess, a quality that could improve the Mavericks’ awful defense over time.
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