The Dallas Mavericks will enter the 2019-20 NBA season with a blueprint for the future. With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavs will have two capable scorers to lead the new charge. Well, the issue is, they need help. Last season, the Mavs finished the year 33-49, good for 14th in the Western Conference. Have the Mavs done enough to make a march up the standings?
Porzingis was a good addition. However, due to injury, he didn't suit up last year. Even with his presence, the team is still lacking in key areas. No more DeAndre Jordan. So that means the interior defense will suffer some. No more Wesley Matthews with his perimeter play and defense, now they will rely on young players to step up. Wins will be hard to come by for the Mavericks this season but the future looks bright.
Here are 5 bold predictions for the 2019-20 Dallas Mavericks
Will Struggle At The PG Position
There is no way the Dallas Mavericks can tie their success to Delon Wright, J.J. Barea, and Jalen Brunson. All are more suited for reserve duty. While an increase in minutes for either may result in solid numbers a few games across the season, as a starter, neither are ready. With their core, the Mavericks will need to make a deal to get a quality player in at that position. Depending on how their season has played out by the trade deadline, this is when they may make a splash.
Who will be available at that time remains to be seen but if the season is already a wash, why risk a deal with players and draft picks when losing will be the only option to get what you want? For his career, Wright has averaged 7.4 points and 2.7 assists per game over four seasons. This will not cut it. The bench offers no instant solutions either. Jalen Brunson had has shot last year to that the team and Barea is the sparkplug off the bench. Having no real leader at this position will haunt the Mavs all season.
Luka Doncic Will Average 26+ Points Per Game
Last season, Doncic was the main and sometimes the only option on offense for the Mavericks. In 2019, he should have help with a healthy Kristaps Porzingis. On paper, this appears to be a deadly combination but it will be Doncic who benefits the most. In 2018, the rookie averaged 21.2 points per game while shooting .427 percent from the floor. With Porzingis on the floor, this will open up better-scoring chances for the sharpshooter which will allow him a bump in production.
The only drawback will be the PG position. If the Mavericks had a better facilitator, there's no telling how dangerous Doncic could be. With the roster so shaky, it's to believe that Doncic will up his 16.5 shot attempts and net around the 19 per game mark. With Doncic able to create off the dribble and hit the perimeter shot, he will be in contention for an All-Star slot with a per-game average of around 26 points.
Will Be In Contention For No. 1 Pick In 2020 Draft
The Mavericks are not built to win this season. There is talent on the roster with Doncic and Porzingis, but other than that, the Mavericks are hoping Tim Hardaway Jr can regain some sort of shooting form that made him a first-round pick in 2013. The success or failure of the team this coming season will fall on the shoulders of Doncic and Porzingis. If both players can perform as advertised and as they have in the past, then this could be a hot destination for free agents in 2020.
But if they fail to live up to their end of the bargain, the Mavericks will find themselves right along with the New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets and any other team clutching a good luck charm come June. The Mavericks are young and there will be some bumps along the way but the roster, while spearheaded by two young players will still find themselves looking up to most of the teams out West.
Will Finish Last In Points Allowed
Someone has to score the ball. For the Mavericks that will be Porzingis and Doncic. However, each player will not average 50 points per game. They will need help but who will handle that load? Last season, the Mavericks averaged 108.9 points per game, good for 21st in the NBA. However, those stats were calculated after trades and injuries to certain players. The 2019-20 roster will struggle.
After Porzingis and Doncic, the next closest to a double-digit scorer will fall to the inconsistent Tim Hardaway Jr. While capable of putting up points, Hardaway has struggled when called upon nightly. So where will the other scoring come from? Can the Dallas Mavericks count on Dwight Powell and Justin Jackson to step into a scoring role? Yes and no. Powell has to focus more on the defensive end while Jackson must shake off any loss of confidence he has endured since entering the league.
Kristaps Porzingis Will Put On A Show, If Healthy
The New York Knicks knew the talent they had with Porzingis. For their own reasons, be it money or off the court issues, they decided to part ways. Armed with a new team and a chip on his shoulder, Porzingis will come out the gate firing on all cylinders. However, his potential has never been put into question. It's been his ability to stay healthy that has many taking back their comparisons of Dirk Nowitzki.
If Porzingis can give the Maveries 70+ games, is there reason to believe he cannot put up the same numbers or better than he did with the New York Knicks? In his best season for the Knicks, Porzingis played his way to an All-Star nod with averages of 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in 2017. He's a force on both ends of the floor and just like Dirk, he can stretch out to the perimeter. If he can stay healthy, the Mavericks could very well have two All-Star players on the roster.
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