The Dallas Mavericks entered the NBA trade deadline foray with an hour left before the 2 p.m. central deadline on Thursday by trading beloved veteran guard Devin Harris to the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team trade that saw the Mavericks receive Doug McDermott, the sharpshooting forward from the New York Knicks along with a second-round draft pick from the Nuggets (via Portland).

While the move continues the trend for Dallas towards a youth-focused rebuild (McDermott enters restricted free agency following this season and he’s just 26 years old), the Mavericks are quietly putting together the pieces to potentially add another first-round draft pick.

It’s a scenario that has been talked about in Mavericks’ circles for some time. The pick Dallas received as part of Thursday’s trade is currently No. 49. If you add that to the Mavericks’ own No. 32 pick, Dallas,(along with some of its expiring contracts) might have what it takes to put together a compelling package to another team on draft night.

Nelson said adding Portland's second round pick could give the Mavs the flexibility to package picks together and move up come draft night.

— Bobby Karalla (@bobbykaralla) February 8, 2018

What could interest the Mavericks late in the first round? Nick Neppach of 105.3 The Fan has been researching a lot of potential late first-round prospects and likes Boise State’s Chandler Hutchinson, for one. He certainly fits the long, rangy “interchangeable men” profile that Dallas is looking for as it rebuilds.

Man — Chandler Hutchison is my guy. Finished with 23p/12r/4s last night against New Mexico. He had an assist, two steals, and two buckets in the last three Bronco possessions to complete the comeback and win the game. pic.twitter.com/J3EAtdA3sC

— Nick Neppach (@NickNeppach) February 7, 2018

After the dust had settled on the trade deadline, Dallas also signed forward Kyle Collinsworth to a deal for the rest of the regular season. Collinsworth had been shuttling back and forth between the Mavericks and Texas Legends as the trade deadline drew nearer and had already received two 10-day contracts, the limit for a player. The deal was signed Thursday in the last day of his second 10-day deal.

Along with the remainder of the 2017-18 regular season being guaranteed, the Mavericks will have team options on Collinsworth for the next two years, allowing for both roster and financial flexibility and for him to continue to have opportunities to prove himself in NBA action.

In seven games this season, Collinsworth has averaged 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 10 minutes.

All in all, Dallas maintained course on its youthful rebuild on Thursday and set the stage for a very interesting offseason in which the Mavericks could very well have the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.