The Dallas Mavericks are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. Here are three trades that improve their team this season.

Dallas Mavericks supporters are clamoring for a trade. That is in large part because Luka Doncic pushed them into contention for home court in the first round of the crowded Western Conference.

Virtually the only way the Mavs can make a trade is by using the remaining balance on their trade exception that they created in the trade for Justin Jackson. At the time they had made the largest exception of this sort in NBA history, at $21.3 million. The Mavs agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Grizzlies to add Delon Wright over the offseason, who after signing a new deal with Dallas left the team with $11.9 million in unused money on the exception.

Using this credit is going to be tricky for Dallas, as they already have a deep roster and are very thin with draft resources. Several teams employ aging veterans who could improve the Dallas Mavericks for a survivable price.

1. Making a move for Roberson

Mavericks Get Thunder Get 2nd round pick

Andre Roberson is one of the best defensive wings in the NBA. The Mavs have allowed opposing scorers to get to the rim at will against them on several occasions this season. In the Western Conference, they are going to face a difficult gauntlet of shot-makers no matter which opponent they draw in the playoffs.

Dallas has a number of offensive weapons and shooters but lacks enough perimeter defenders to be prepared for any situation. Delon Wright, Dorian Finney-Smith and Kristaps Porzingis are the team’s only prime defenders. The Mavericks could use one or two more.

Roberson has only one year left on his deal, and would not be sacrificing any future cap space for a team that is already short on it. The Thunder are going nowhere fast with a number of bloated contracts, and would not be disappointed to add another draft pick to their already massive haul.