Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic has taken the league by storm and it may help the Mavs attract big time free agents in the future, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
For the past few seasons, the Mavs have always had cap space to sign superstars, but they have never been able to close the deal. Dallas has missed out on LeBron James, Dwight Howard (when he was still good) and LaMarcus Aldridge during the past few years.
Instead of signing stars, the Mavs have only been able to sign above average players who don't really move the needle in Wesley Matthews and Harrison Barnes. Dallas was able to get DeAndre Jordan last summer, but with Luka Doncic in the mix, some around the league believe the Mavs have a shot at getting a real superstar to come to Dallas in free agency.
Doncic changes the way the Mavs can pitch themselves in free agency. This is a team with a suddenly bright future, not one clinging to the final productive years of Nowitzki's career.
“It’s always hard to make that pitch and get over the hump with free agents,” one league source told Sporting News. “But they didn’t really have a chance with those guys. Players mostly like (owner Mark) Cuban, and they were always a compelling enough franchise to get in the room with LeBron and Dwight Howard and other stars. But they could not present themselves as a team with a great future.
“They can do that now. Not sure they can push a star to put his name on the line, but ‘Come play with Luka,' it’s a better message.”
Doncic has been nothing but spectacular this season. The 19-year-old is averaging 20.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and 73.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Doncic is running away with the Rookie of the Year award and has received praise from a lot of superstars in the NBA. Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry was the latest superstar to speak highlight of Doncic after the Dubs beat the Mavs on Sunday.
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