However, Luka Dončić has looked a bit slow out of the gates and is currently out for at least a week due to a wrist injury.

There’s no question that Dončić is one of the best players in the league when he’s healthy and right. He led the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season, bringing them to the Western Conference Finals two seasons before.

That said, there will always be a team that wants to take a chance on a player with the talent level of the Slovenian superstar’s stature.

for the Houston Rockets to trade for the five-time All-Star guard.

The Rockets have a plethora of assets that could intrigue the Mavs in a potential trade, including Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore, Reed Sheppard, and several first-round draft picks.

The idea would pair Dončić up with Alperen Şengün and leverage the all-around talent of the point guard/center duo.

Houston would need to be cognizant that Dončić is a ball-dominant player, though they found solid success when they had James Harden, who is similar to the Mavericks superstar in a lot of ways.

Dončić would be a strong fit next to many of the defensive-minded wings on Houston’s current roster, but it’s hard to imagine many of them sticking around in a potential deal. To maximize what he brings to the Rockets, they’ll need to get 3-and-D wings to help space the floor and cover for Dončić’s defensive lapses.

Houston will also need big men who can run the pick-and-roll with Dončić and position themselves well for lobs or quick entry passes inside, similar to Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford.