The Dallas Mavericks offseason priority is surrounding Luka Doncic with the right team to get back to the finals. Following an impressive regular season topped off by a deep finals run, the Mavericks will look to improve on last season’s success, but with little wiggle room to work with.
2024 NBA Offseason Preview: What’s Next For The Dallas Mavericks?
Season Recap
The Dallas Mavericks offseason changes will follow a disappointing NBA Finals performance. Before ending the seasons of the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas, in turn, had their season ended by the Boston Celtics, who crushed the Mavericks in five games. A lack of offensive productivity from several key Mavs players contributed to their downfall.
After an outstanding regular season, Kyrie Irving did not play well, to say the least, in the finals and was hit a miss during the first three playoff rounds. Notable players like P.J. Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., and Daniel Gafford also had good regular seasons and were productive in the playoffs until the Mavs reached the finals. Washington and Gafford were stellar trade deadline acquisitions and finished the season as two of the Mavericks’ best role players. Rookie Dereck Lively had an impressive first-year campaign and stepped up in the playoffs with key baskets, effort, and energy.
Doncic’s playoffs were a tale of two tapes. Statistically speaking, Donic led the team in points and single-handedly kept the Mavericks in many games. On the other hand, Luka carried on his years-long tension and verbal back-and-forth engagements with the referees, which unquestionably contributed to his NBA finals shortcomings. As Dallas heads into the draft this week and further into the off-season, surrounding Doncic and Irving is a priority, with Doncic entering his prime and Irving still playing at a high level.
Project Cap Space and Draft Picks
Over the Cap
Dallas is in a tight spot and doesn’t have much space to work with. Both Doncic and Irving combine for north of $80 million next year, and the Mavericks’ current committed salary of $176 million surpasses $141 million, which is the maximum. However, sans any splashy moves, running it back with much of the same team is on the table, with a few smaller changes here and there. Luckily the Mavericks are still outside of the first apron tax penalty giving them a full mid-level expectation to use in free agency.
58th Overall Draft Pick
Primary Targets
The Mavericks hold the last pick in the draft, so snatching up a higher quality and more touted player is probably a lost cause. Dallas has held pre-draft workouts for several college players thus far, and four players have been singled out in mock drafts for the Mavs. Antonio Reeves out of Kentucky, Jaylen Wells from Washington State, Missouri’s Sean East, North Carolina State’s DJ Horn, and Trentyn Flowers from the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian NBL are possible draft targets later this week.
Also of note is Bronny James of USC. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison knows James and the James family closely, and it’s been rumored that the Mavs are possibly looking at Bronny. However, media sources and scouts have stated that if he goes in the first round, it will be before the 58th pick.
Pending Maverick’s Off-Season Free Agents and Possible Departures
Free Agents
- Derrick Jones Jr. (Unrestricted)
- Markieff Morris (Unrestricted)
- Greg Brown III (Restricted)
- Brandon Williams (Restricted)
Derrick Jones Jr. played the 2023-24 season on a one-year contract and played well as a starter. It could be that Jones looks to upgrade financially and use this past season as a chip to garner a better contract from another team if Dallas doesn’t do likewise. Thirteen-year journeyman Markieff Morris is also an assumed departure this summer. Dallas was his eighth team and played only 26 games this season, never getting on the floor during the playoffs. Unless brought back to Dallas on a minimum contract, Morris will be elsewhere next year.
Trade Pieces
Until this past season, Tim Hardaway Jr. had been a reliable piece to the Mavericks rotation. However, he was kept out of the rotation for much of the playoffs, and Hardaway will likely be traded with one year left on his deal. Kleber might also be shown the door via trade, although it may be out of financial necessity more than anything else. Kleber struggled to return from injury in the postseason and could never regain his shooting groove. His tenure in Dallas has been productive, and he has predicated himself as a consistent three-point shooter. Kleber just completed his first year of a three-year contract signed in 2023.
Realistic Offseason Targets
Trade
The trade market might be bleak this off-season, with limited options due to the cap. However, players like Malcolm Brogdon or Matisse Thybulle are out there if the Mavericks want to enhance their defensive capabilities. Brogdon is a 39.1% shooter from three and could play well alongside Doncic and Irving. Thybulle was a target for the Mavs last year, but the Portland Trailblazers matched the offer. Dallas could make a play for him again this year. As an excellent defender, Thybulle would surely bolster the Mavs defense. Any trade Dallas pursues will almost indeed involve Tim Hardaway Jr.
Free Agents
With limited off-season cap space, the Mavericks options aren’t splashy or eye-catching. For price range purposes, however, Royce O’Neale, Cedi Osman, or Lonnie Walker are all available options to sign with the mid-level expectation or minimum contracts. O’Neale provides a solid three-and-D option and someone who could be used effectively as a kick-out option for Doncic and Irving. Focusing more on their shooting than their defense, Cedi Osman and Lonnie Walker are cheap contract options who could again be used as spot-up or kick-out shooters, providing a little more offense.
The Dallas Mavericks offseason doesn’t need to be a complete roster overhaul event by any means. Minus a couple of player departures, for the most part, as currently constructed, the Mavs have what it takes to get back to the finals next year. With Doncic and Irving having found their comfort playing together, Dallas can very well contend for a while yet.
