Which players are the Dallas Mavericks targeting before the NBA trade deadline?

The Dallas Mavericks (22-16) are currently the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference after missing last year’s postseason. With the trade deadline approaching, Dallas is looking for players to upgrade their roster and make a push for the NBA Finals.

According to Canadian Sportsbook Bodog.com, the Mavs are targeting Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam.

Bodog has the Mavs with the best odds to land Siakam at +150, the other teams in the top five are the Memphis Grizzlies (+250), Indiana Pacers (+450), Atlanta Hawks (+500) and Golden State Warriors (+1400)

Siakam has been the subject of trade rumors all season as the Raptors seem headed for a rebuild and the 29-year-old Cameroonian native could help a title contender this season. Toronto also recently traded OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, which could be a sign they’ll be sellers at the trade deadline.

The Raptors drafted Siakam with the 27th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and the forward has spent all eight years of his career in Toronto. With the Raptors Siakam has made two All-NBA teams, two all-star appearances, won the 2019 NBA title and was the 2018-19 Most Improved Player.

Siakam would provide much-needed perimeter defense for a Mavs team that ranks 17th in defensive rating and would give the team another 20-point per game scoring option in addition to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

While Siakam doesn’t have a no-trade clause, he is a free agent at the end of this NBA season so any team that trades for him would want some idea that he would be willing to resign in the Summer. Siakam reportedly told the Sacramento Kings he wouldn’t resign with them which ended their pursuit of the two-time all-star.

It’s unknown if Siakam has any interest in the Mavs, but they remain the odds-on favorite to acquire him in a trade.