The Dallas Mavericks can call the 2020-21 NBA season a success despite their first-round exit. After all, apart from their improved regular-season standing, they managed to stretch their first-round duel with the might LA Clippers to seven games. Luka Doncic proved once again why he's the next face of the league. Other Mavs players, too like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson proved how critical they are to the team.

In the offseason, the Mavs must address several roster decisions. As usual, the front office has a tough balancing act managing their cap space, their players at the end of their contracts, and the free agency market. There are whispers among fans and analysts that the Mavs need to overhaul their roster simply as it's not just strong enough to contend. At the end of the day, it's Mavs front office and coaching staff who know what needs to be done. These three things will likely be the core of their discussions in the offseason.

Mavs' 3 Biggest Decisions in Offseason

Luka Doncic's Massive Extension

Luka Doncic, Play-In Tournament, Mark Cuban

This is something that the Mavericks have established probably since Doncic's impressive rookie campaign. Whether you're a Mavs fan or a hater, you can agree that the Slovenian has earned to receive a five-year max contract from his team. His projected contract will be worth $201.5 million over five years from the 2022-23 season to 2026-27. Perhaps the only thing that the two parties will negotiate is the player option 2026-27. We've seen most stars with a player option at the end of their massive contracts.

For Doncic, this acts as a safety net he can fall into if the Mavs fail to surround him with the players he needs. There's no question he would want to remain with the organization that believed in his talent since day one. However, the reality is that for him to be called one of the greatest, he needs to win multiple titles. If the Mavs fail to win the title in the next couple of years, this would simply mean they took a generational talent for granted.

 

Tim Hardaway Jr. Stays at the Expense of…

Tim Hardaway Jr., Luka Doncic, Clippers, Mavericks, Game 7

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It's difficult to recall that once upon a time, Tim Hardaway Jr. was simply seen as an add-on in the trade involving Kristaps Porzingis in 2019. After all, Hardaway Jr. was on the verge of becoming a journeyman at that point. He couldn't find the right team that fits his playstyle. But in the 2020-21 NBA season, Hardaway Jr. proved his mettle. His ability to slash to the hoop and knock down 3-pointers have triggered some to say that he fits better with Doncic than Porzingis.

Hardaway Jr. is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Forecasts reveal that the guard is worth some $15 to $18 million a year. If they offer Hardaway $18 million a year, then it would put them right at the salary cap. They would still have the $9.5 million left at the midlevel and $3.8 million biannual exceptions to use in free agency. If they do sign Hardaway Jr., the Mavs could create some $20 million in cap space. However, this would mean that they have to let go of Willie Cauley-Stein (team option) and have Josh Richardson (player option).

At face value, the odds seem to favor Hardaway Jr. But on the flipside of the coin, if Hardaway leaves, then the Mavs could have up to $30 million in cap space. This is critical info as the Mavs do not have a pick in 2021. As such, the only way they can fortify their roster is by heading to the free agency market. This offseason, the likes of Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart will headline the unrestricted free agent guard market.

 

Time to Move Porzingis?

Mavs, Kristaps Porzingis, Luka Doncic

Kristaps Porzingis is the elephant in the room that the Mavs don't want to see. The Latvian was projected to become their second star next to Doncic. He inked a five-year maximum contract worth $158 million in 2019. But so far, not a single Mavs fans think he's playing up to par. There were times that the likes of Hardaway Jr. or even Jalen Brunson played better than him. His meager averages of 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in the playoffs are already solid proof that the Mavs need to reevaluate him. They need to look at the tape to see if Porzingis is truly the liability or if Rick Carlisle's system doesn't just mesh well with his play style.

Whatever the case may be, Porzingis will enter the third year of this contract with some $100 million left. It's a pretty hefty contract for someone who hasn't performed at a high level. He seems to have fully healed from that devastating ACL injury. But the Latvian has continued to miss some games due to other injures. So this could be a cause of concern.