The NBA trade deadline came and went on Thursday afternoon, and the Dallas Mavericks were among the teams that were active.

Dallas’ first trade of the day came on Thursday morning when they traded for Daniel Gafford. They sent the Washington Wizards Richaun Holmes and a first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 6-foot-10 big man.

Later that day, Dallas traded for P.J. Washington of the Charlotte Hornets. Dallas sent Charlotte Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a 2027 first-round pick.

5 Buyout targets the Dallas Mavericks should sign after the trade deadline

Both players are expected to make big impacts in Dallas, and now they have an open roster spot since they traded away three players while only acquiring two players.

Several players across the league were waived on Thursday, and the Mavs could make a move for someone soon. Here are five players from the buyout market that the Dallas Mavericks should pursue.

5. Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry was part of the Terry Rozier trade that sent him to the Miami Heat, and if the Charlotte Hornets end up buying him out, the Dallas Mavericks should consider pursuing him.

This season, Lowry is averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from downtown. He may not be the elite defensive guard that he once was, but he is still a solid defender who can create for others.

One of the Mavs’ biggest needs at the trade deadline that they didn’t address was their need for a backup point guard. This need was nowhere near as pressing as their need for a new backup big or starting power forward, but the need is still there.

Kyrie Irving does a great job of leading the offense when Luka Doncic is on the bench, but besides Irving, they don’t have a reliable creator. Dante Exum looked as if he would be this, but his recent string of injuries have derailed this. He also seems to play better off the ball than being a primary creator.

Lowry is a six-time NBA All-Star, and his playoff experience, defense, and ability to create could lead the Mavs to make a move.

4. Marcus Morris

If the Dallas Mavericks decide to go a separate direction and trade for frontcourt depth, Marcus Morris may be a great option.

Morris was traded twice on Thursday, and he could be a player that the Mavs pursue on the buyout market. This season, Morris is averaging 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.4 steals per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown. Morris may not be having as productive of a season as we saw in LA, but he would still be a good end-of-the-bench option for Dallas.

His brother also happens to be on the Mavs.

Dallas traded for Markieff Morris and Kyrie Irving last season, and Morris re-signed on a one-year deal in the 2023 offseason. Markieff would likely be thrilled if the Mavs can land his brother, and he’d also be a solid fit too.

Morris is a great shooter off the catch and he would give the Mavs more size. Standing at 6-foot-8, Morris has the strength to defend some bigger wings and is a capable defender when engaged. He also has vast playoff experience and plays with good physicality, toughness, and energy.

Morris may not move the needle much like some of the other players on this list would, but he would undoubtedly make the Mavs better.

3. Spencer Dinwiddie

Former Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is arguably the best player on the buyout market, and the Dallas Mavericks have already been linked to him as of late Thursday afternoon, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Philadelphia 76ers.

The Dinwiddie sweepstakes could likely come down to the Lakers and Mavericks, but his past success in Dallas could help bring him back.

Dinwiddie was traded to Dallas as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2022 and was a main contributor during the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference Finals. He was one of Dallas’ best players in the clutch that season and Luka Doncic helped bring the best out of him.

His best 3-point shooting numbers of his career came as a Maverick, and he thrived in the role of being a secondary creator. Doncic and Jalen Brunson led the charge for that Western Conference Finals team, and Dinwiddie could carry the load when both players were on the bench.

If Dallas were to trade for him, Dinwiddie would likely lead the second unit when Doncic and Kyrie Irving are on the bench, and his ability to create for others, get downhill, and play on and off the ball is quite intriguing.

Dallas could also try to re-sign him this summer if they were to sign him off the buyout market, and he could be a key piece over the next few seasons.

2. Danuel House Jr.

The Detroit Pistons waived Danuel House Jr. on Thursday, and although the Dallas Mavericks haven’t been linked to him yet, he’d be a solid get to give them some wing depth.

The Mavs were known to be looking to upgrade at the small forward position at the deadline, and since they prioritized getting depth at the power forward and center positions, the Mavs could look to address this need on the buyout market.

This season for the Philadelphia 76ers, House Jr. is averaging 4.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.4 steals per game. He could be an energizer bunny off the bench for Dallas and his defensive versatility could be utilized next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and having a 6-foot-8 wingspan, House Jr. has the ideal frame to compete with the elite wings in the NBA. He moves his feet well, hustles, battles through screens, and has some playoff experience with the Houston Rockets, 76ers, and Utah Jazz.

Utah used House Jr. some to guard Doncic in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, and he can defend both guards and forwards. Even if signed by Dallas, House Jr. may not have a big role, but he is someone who fills their needs on the wing.

1. Killian Hayes

Although Killian Hayes has not been great for the Detroit Pistons this season, and signing him could be a massive risk, the Dallas Mavericks could consider bringing in Hayes.

If the Mavs shock everyone and sign Hayes, he would likely not have a role on the team this year. Dallas is gearing up to make a playoff push right now, and Hayes has not been a big contributor on a historically bad Detroit team. This doesn’t mean that Hayes will never be good in the NBA, as he is only 22 years old, but he would be a project in Dallas, to say the least.

This season for Detroit, Hayes is averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from downtown. He has been inefficient, but his ability to create and defend could intrigue Dallas.

The Mavs were also linked in trade talks for Hayes over the offseason. These talks included Bojan Bogdanovic, who was a trade target of Dallas’ for a long time, but Hayes’ inclusion at all is intriguing.

Hayes may not move the needle like someone like Spencer Dinwiddie or Marcus Morris, but the potential is there. He also sometimes has flashes that he can be a solid point guard in this league, but expect Dallas to pursue someone who is already proven.

For all the latest news on the Dallas Mavericks, stay tuned.