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The Dallas Mavericks have taken a big hit this offseason, and they have two main areas to address.
Slovenian stud Luka Doncic has developed into one of the finest superstars in the NBA over the past three years. Rightfully so, the Mavs honored him with a sizable five-year contract deal in 2021.
After that, the Mavericks were immediately faced with the challenge of building a championship-caliber squad around the Slovenian wonder.
They appeared to have made a significant stride towards title contention when they upset the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2022 NBA playoffs to advance to the Western Conference Finals this past season.
Remember that they were one of the league's hottest teams, winning 36 of their previous 48 contests thanks to one of the NBA's top defenses.
Unfortunately, though, the Mavs have been forced to start over this summer.
They added Javale McGee and retained Theo Pinson, but the biggest news was losing Jalen Brunson.
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2 biggest needs Mavericks must still address to win 2023 NBA Finals
2. Ball-handling
The Mavericks' front office won't disclose publicly whether they had any suspicions that Jalen Brunson might leave this summer for the New York Knicks. To be clear, GM Nico Harrison stated that re-signing him was their main goal this summer. Mark Cuban, the Mavericks' governor, was certain that Brunson would stay because Dallas could pay him more than any other city.
It was crystal clear that Dallas wanted Brunson to remain a Maverick. He was the top priority, and the Mavericks had their checkbook ready. The only problem was… Brunson left anyway.
“You can’t replace Brunson …. I am happy for him and his family we wanted him back but he wanted New York”-Dallas Mavericks HC Jason Kidd #Knicks #MFFL
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) July 8, 2022
Now, Harrison, Cuban, and head coach Jason Kidd must determine whether Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr, Frank Ntilikina, and rookie Jaden Hardy collectively have adequate ballhandling and playmaking ability for the upcoming season.
Keep in mind that despite making a comeback from injury, Hardaway Jr. is not a creative ball-handler. Ntilikina also can't be counted on to consistently fill that job. Dinwiddie could be the x-factor. If he can blossom the same way Brunson did, that would be awesome for the Mavericks.
Hardy, meanwhile, can score in solitary situations and can shoot the lights out when he's on. He still has a lot to prove, though, and will probably only have a minor part this year following a season with G-league Ignite.
It would be wonderful to add one more reliable ball-handler and playmaker to this mix, if only to ensure that there's no drop-off when Doncic sits or rests.
1. Wing Depth
During the 2022 postseason run, head coach Jason Kidd almost ran Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock into the ground. In the 18 games they played, both players shot at least 40% from distance and were rock-solid defenders.
However, following them, the rotation abruptly stopped. After the season, the Mavericks made it plain that improving their big man and wing rotations was a top focus. With the acquisition of Christian Wood, they have taken care of the void at the 4/5 spot, but they now need to concentrate on improving their wing depth.
Will Tim Hardaway Jr. play small forward in lineups with several guards? Yes. Josh Green might perhaps advance in his growth. Sure. But in the NBA of today, just those two won't be enough.
Dallas Mavericks wing Josh Green (@JoshBGreen) is putting in work at @impactbball: pic.twitter.com/3LwEyVpSFX
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 14, 2022
The greatest question mark on this section of the roster is whether Green can develop into a real rotational player on a playoff club. That is still a huge question mark. The Dallas Mavericks do have one roster spot still open, so they should make it a priority to obtain a solid wingman. Maybe Doncic's good friend and compatriot Goran Dragic can fill that role? Keep in mind, however, that the Mavericks don’t have any cap space left. They also don't have a lot of assets they can package in trades.
In any case, Luka Doncic may have to lower his expectations this coming season.
On any given night, he provides the Mavericks a fighting chance to defeat any opponent, but over the course of a lengthy campaign, they will struggle to win just on Luka Magic alone.
Recall that Dallas ranked only 15th in offensive efficiency, 24th in points scored per game, and last in pace during the previous season. If they want another deep playoff run, they cannot afford to settle for those kinds of numbers.
Having said that, the next couple of years are going to be rough for Doncic unless Harrison, Cuban, and Kidd can wield their own magic and bring Doncic a much-needed co-star.
