DONUT 1: EAR TO THE GROUND

If you listen closely, you can hear it in the distance.

It's soft, for now, being that its a little ways off, but that sound you're hearing is the rumbling of trade opportunities barreling towards the Dallas Mavericks this season.

The NBA landscape is constantly changing, and this particular season could potentially see the Mavs make a big splash to further accelerate the rebuild.

DONUT 2: THE ROSTER NOW

Now, Dallas seems to have to majority of its roster ready to start the new season. Some of the "end-of-bench" guys will still be determined in training camp, and the team might also look to juggle at least one of its 2-way contracts, but the main contributors are locked down and ready to get things moving. The Mavs' starters, assuming Dirk Nowitzki does indeed assume an off-the-bench role, figure to be: Dennis Smith Jr., Wes Matthews, Luka Doncic, Harrison Barnes and DeAndre Jordan. To me, on paper, that looks like a solid starting lineup, really, if everyone can stay healthy.

But, as Mavs owner Mark Cuban has put it to me before, "We are never content."

This line of thinking applied to the NBA Draft, when the Mavs made a deal with the Atlanta Hawks at No. 3 in order to snag Doncic, who was "No. 1 on our board," as Cuban told me immediately after the selection had been made.

Were the Mavs content with just adding the young European superstar? Not at all. Dallas then secured elite big man DeAndre Jordan in the early hours of free agency, a player that Cuban and company didn't burn any bridges with back in 2015, giving him an opportunity to become a "bridge to the future" here in 2018.

DONUT 3: SO WHAT'S NEXT?

What could be the next move for the Mavs? The possibilities are almost endless, really, with every team talking to every team about an assortment of ideas. It might wait until the Summer of 2019, when there is ample cap room to fuel a "Plan Powder'' (though one of a different sort, as Dallas isn't spending the season twiddling its thumbs waiting, but rather, trying to draft, develop and win now, too). But I believe it could be a trade (or at least an attempted one) to acquire a star player from another team that's having issues.

This is a version of another clever nickname you've seen in this space in recent years, "Nuclear Winter.''

An interesting target for me among all the different possible permeations? Well, mainly the Minnesota Timberwolves. There are the two names I have in mind, and in my mind I have my version of the reasoning for each side making the deal.

DONUT 4: JIMMY BUTLER

A few weeks ago it was reported that Jimmy Butler turned down the Wolves' four-year, $100-million contract extension offer. Given the caliber of player that Butler is, conventional wisdom tells us that this is potentially the best move for him, financially, assuming that he doesn't get injured or have an awful season. However, in this particular situation, there could be more to it than that.

According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, Butler is supposedly "fed up" with his teammates' "nonchalant attitude," and that Karl-Anthony Towns is at the center of his frustration. If Butler, who has a player option for next summer, makes it painfully obvious that he intends to leave in 2019, the Wolves may have to trade him instead of taking the risk of losing him for nothing.

That can be the sort of transaction that doesn't wait for the Summer of 2019.

DONUT 5: WHAT'S 'FAIR'?

Agreeing on a "fair'' would be the hardest part, but the Mavs have some pieces (like Matthews' expiring $18.6 million contract and Jalen Brunson's four-year, cost-efficient rookie deal) to begin the conversation. How much more than that will it take? I'd like to find out.

DONUT 6: WHAT'S THE PRECEDENT?

Last season, the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to trade star forward Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round draft pick in 2018 and a second-round pick in 2019. (The Clippers also shipped Willie Reed and Brice Johnson to Detroit as part of the deal.) There are were no "superstars'' in that swap, although obviously Harris and Bradley and a No. 1 have value.

So if we want to know how to "start the conversation'' and how to "examine a precedent,'' I do think that can be done.

DONUT 7: ON THE OTHER HAND ...

Maybe it's hard to know what's "right'' or "fair'' until after the fact. A year ago, Paul George wanted out of Indiana. What did the Pacers get for him? An underperforming Thunder player named Victor Oladipo (along with young big man Domantas Sabonis). Some said they didn't get enough for George ... but maybe it was better than getting nothing when he bolted via free agency for the Lakers, right?

Ah, but wait.

Oladipo made his first All-Star appearance this year while averaging 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game for the 48-34 Pacers. In other words, Indy kinda salvaged its George situation just fine.

Meanwhile, many wondered why OKC would "rent'' George when everyone knew that in the Summer of 2018 he'd simply jump to L.A.

But instead, George re-upped with OKC.

Point being, I don't know the "right'' price,'' the "precedent'' is all over the map, and I just want to think through whether it's worth a stab.

At the same time, that "No. 1 pick'' that every team asks for? Dallas has, of course, already pretty much conveyed that to Atlanta in the Doncic deal. (Which we're all fine with.) And that Victor Oladipo-waiting-to-break-out guy? I'm not certain the Mavs have such a thing.

DONUT 8: IS THERE A CONNECTION?

How interested is Texas native Butler in coming home? I'd like to find out about that, too.

From what I am gathering, Butler is also really good friends with Mavs' new guy Jordan. Therefore, if this trade somehow could be engineered, you'd have to like the Mavs' chances of re-signing Butler in 2019, assuming he does opt out. And, for the same reason, you'd have to like DeAndre's chances of re-upping as well.

No, it's not exactly a "SuperTeam'' and it's not exactly a bunch of studs on a banana boat. But if you're trying to get as far as you can as fast as you can, Jimmy Butler helps you get there.

DONUT 9: NOW TO ALL THE DOWNSIDES

Well, actually, there is just one. ... and I know Fish has the scoop on this in a coming Mavs VIP piece on what the thinking is inside team headquarters ... but I can guess:

Is there a reason to give anything now when we can buy him for free later?

My spitballin' answer: Get 'em while you can. Grab it while it's grab-able. Make a play now ... later ... February ... July.

What if the best possible opportunity to get everybody to say "yes'' isn't July, but rather, is today?

One other reason to try to do it now, even if it costs you pieces: It makes you better now. And as you may have noticed, the 2018-19 Mavs at this time with a record of 0-0, aren't exactly planning on more tanking.

DONUT 11: SPITBALLING

Spitballing trade scenarios can be tricky, because despite what we think we see on the surface, other opportunities can come out of nowhere and gain traction quickly, as seems to be the case with most "blockbuster" trades. Additionally, we can't know everything about which team likes which player. (We know, for instance, that Dallas management would, given Barnes' full resume of qualities, balk at giving him up in a number of scenarios.)

So as always at DBcom, we're careful to frame this as me trying to apply logic to what I wish the Mavs to explore. And if there is ever "breaking news'' on this subject? Fish and The 75-Member Staff will work to bring you that, as well.

DONUT 12: THE FINAL WORD

We will keep our eyes peeled throughout the first half of this upcoming NBA season to gauge how things are shaking out. For now, though, if I were the Mavs' front office and looking for the "special'' opportunity that Mavs sources have told Fish would be required to move Matthews, I believe Minnesota is a team to be keeping tabs on. ... because it's a team with "special'' circumstances and "special'' players.

Oh, and if that's not Butler, maybe it's Andrew Wiggins -- a concept I'll examine in Wednesday's Mavs Donuts here at DallasBasketball.com.