Soon after Irving's injury, we suggested the Mavericks make a move for Anfernee Simons. The 25-year-old guard is seeing his talents go to waste on the Portland Trail Blazers, who already seem prepared to move on without him, given the talented guards coming through on the roster. Simons might not be long for Portland, and Dallas needs a guard like him to shoulder the load in Irving's absence.

Simons can lead the team's offense as the primary ball-handler until Irving's return. He's also well-adjusted to playing as an off-ball two-guard. In reality, he'd help Irving's transition from rehab to on-court play, carrying most of the on-ball load while Irving gets his feet under him. Their duo could be a free-scoring backcourt pairing complemented by incredible frontcourt defenders. Klay Thompson is a veteran but will bring those great instincts to a young Blazers squad looking to break the Playoff hump. Naji Marshall has averaged 19.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists over the last nine games and could be a highly productive forward for the team. The Mavericks get exactly what they need with Simons, who's a guard with room to grow and a skillset that would fit into the team.