The Dallas Mavericks bowed out in the first round of the playoffs after taking a 2-0 lead against the Los Angeles Clippers. While it was a disappointing end to the season, it was clear. The Mavs need to find superstar Luka Doncic some more help.
Kristaps Porzingis was practically non-existent in the series, averaging a measly 13.1 points while shooting 29% from downtown. It was simply not good enough for a player who's expected to be the missing piece to their star duo. While reports surfaced on Monday that Porzingis has been unhappy with how he's been treated with the Mavs, GM Donnie Nelson offered some clarity on the situation, per Callie Caplan:
Donnie Nelson on @1053thefan if Mavs will try to move KP this offseason: “We like the fit. There’s no question he’s had to alter his game. From what his existence was in New York to now, we like the direction he’s going. We’ve got to do a little bit better job incorporating him.”
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) June 8, 2021
I mean, Porzingis went from being the main man in New York to playing second fiddle in Dallas. To put it into perspective, his usage with the Mavs this season was 26%. Doncic meanwhile, was at 36%. In the postseason, Porzingis had just a 16% usage rate. Talk about drastically different.
There's no questioning that Luka is the star of this team. But, Porzingis needs to be more involved in the offense because he is capable of a lot more than we've seen. While there are pieces that need to be added to the Mavs roster, Porzingis is clearly seen as a key piece despite a subpar campaign. If he and Doncic can find some more comradery and play off each other more, it could be dangerous.
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