Two things have been true about the Dallas Mavericks over the last few months.

They've had no qualms about adding a player that's a lightning rod for negative press coverage. They've also made it a point to add guys that can play high-level defense alongside stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Subsequently, the Mavs having interest in Dillon Brooks at the start of free agency should have been expected, as The Athletic insider Kelly Iko says that they were “seriously in the mix” for his services.

Although Dallas didn't have the cap space of a team like the Houston Rockets, who entered the 2023 free agency period with approximately $66 million to spare, the Mavs are a team that would have gotten creative in their efforts to add Brooks if necessary.

For example, in acquiring 3-and-D forward Grant Williams, Dallas brought the restricted free agent in on a three-team sign-and-trade that required them to give up 3-and-D wing Reggie Bullock, a first-round pick and several second-round picks. The Mavs would, more than likely, have been at least willing to surrender at least that much for an even more effective perimeter defender in Brooks.

That said, while it would be nice to say that all is well that ends well, Dallas failing to land Brooks may have a substantial impact on their future outlook. To this point, the Mavs have added only two standout perimeter defenders in Williams and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, one of whom is a rookie that has yet to prove himself against the cream of the crop.

Tsunami Papi to the rescue?

Ultimately, missing out on Dillon Brooks as a free agent target only reinforces the idea that the Dallas Mavericks are targeting free agent Kelly Oubre Jr., an athletic wing with two-way upside whose potential salary demands may have put him out of the price range of several teams.

While Oubre appears to be looking for a contract closer to the mid-level exception than the veteran's minimum, his market value is slowly dwindling with teams running low on cash. Nonetheless, Oubre is one of the best free agents remaining on the free agent market, and a motivated team could look to free up a bit of salary cap space to ensure that they can land Tsunami Papi.