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The Dallas Mavericks are coming off an exciting season in which they outperformed expectations in a major way. Led by Luka Doncic, the team made its way to the Western Conference Finals. With Doncic still just 23 years old and already one of the most impressive talents in the NBA, there is exciting potential for the franchise. However, they still have a great deal of work to do to fully get over the championship hump.
Dallas has made some notable moves already this offseason. They traded for Christian Wood without having to touch any key members of their rotation. The Mavericks also added JaVale McGee in free agency. The franchise made a solid addition of Jaden Hardy in the draft and brought back Frank Ntilikina as well. The team also still has a remaining spot on the roster. However, it was not all good for the Mavericks. There was one key loss that the franchise will end up greatly regretting moving forward- Jalen Brunson.
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Dallas Mavericks' worst move of 2022 NBA offseason
In fairness to the Mavericks, it sounds as if they did their best to keep Jalen Brunson. The Villanova product accepted a four-year deal worth $104 million to play with the New York Knicks. This is a move that the Knicks have been targeting for quite some time, even dating back prior to last season. The strong contract offer as well as hiring his father to the coaching staff ultimately lured Brunson away. The Mavericks reportedly offered the guard a five-year deal worth $110 million with an 8% increase each year. This still could not compare to the average of $26 million he will make in New York. It is important to note that the franchise is currently up against some cap restrictions and is limited in what it could offer.
There has to be a price point for Dallas to walk away from Jalen Brunson.
Signing the guard to a $30M contract would have cost the Mavericks a total of $130M in salary/tax in one season for Brunson alone.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2022
However, the logic of why they could not compete with the Knicks' offer does not make it an easier pill to swallow. Jalen Brunson is coming off a career-best year where he averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. He also had an incredibly impressive playoff run where he averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Brunson was able to step up early on in the playoffs when Luka Doncic was out and proved to be an ideal backcourt partner when he was in the lineup.
While Luka Doncic is a terrific talent and there is a ton to like in his game, he is not the easiest player to play alongside. Doncic is incredibly ball-dominant in his nature. He led the NBA in usage rate last year although there is no denying his productivity. Brunson did a great job playing off-ball most of the time and still creating his own shot when the team needed it. It is difficult for a player to maintain a rhythm in this type of role but Brunson did exactly this.
Perhaps what makes the loss most notable is the lack of effort to replace the guard. There is some buzz surrounding Jaden Hardy, but the inefficiencies in his game suggest it will take him some time to adjust. Hardy averaged 19.5 points last season with the G-League Ignite but shot just 37.9% from the field and 30.9% on three-point attempts. Asking a 20-year-old second-round pick to step into the role of a major contributor would be a tall ask. He is an intriguing talent with great long-term potential, but likely a few years away.
The Mavericks will mostly be counting on last year's supporting case to fill Jalen Brunson's role. Tim Hardaway Jr played just 42 games last season due to a fractured foot. He will be looked to fill some of the production that Brunson's absence will leave. There also is optimism that Spencer Dinwiddie will continue to grow in his chemistry with Doncic. The 6'5″ guard played a total of 41 games with the Mavericks last season following the trade. With a full offseason and a full training camp to find his stride with the team, Dinwiddie may be ready for an expanded role. The empty roster space should also be noted as there could be another move in the works.
Regardless, it should be noted that the shoes that Jalen Brunson left will not be easy to fill. The 25-year-old has been a variable part of the Mavericks throughout his career. The franchise must prepare to go in a new direction and acknowledge how notable to loss is. As long as Luka Doncic remains a member of the team you cannot count the Mavs out. However, there is going to need to be a real adjustment in play as Luka will need a new sidekick moving forward.
