The Dallas Mavericks are the definition of a team that is considered “one piece away”. The Mavs have a one-of-a-kind generational talent in Luka Doncic, and they've already seen decent success in the regular season. The next phase for them is, of course, win in the playoffs, but that's easier said than done. After two consecutive first round exits (to the same team, too!), Mavs fans might think of getting that “one piece” they need from a trade or free agency.
But what if that final piece they covet is already in their roster? Let's look at the guys who can potentially be the X Factor that Doncic and the Mavs need to get over the hump.
Kristaps Porzingis
This pick seems debatable at first, because Porzingis isn't supposed to be an X Factor guy for the Mavs. Kristaps Porzingis was meant to be the second-in-command to Doncic, the guy who handles things when Luka is on the bench. And on the surface, he does have the stats of a “sidekick” archetype: 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
So why is Porzingis listed here as a potential X Factor for the Mavs? Well, he has major issues when it comes to injuries and consistency. Since tearing his ACL in a game for his former team, the New York Knicks, Porzingis hasn't quite been the same two-way threat he once was. He's missed a ton of games for the Mavs in his two year stint there (57 games played in the 2019-2020 season, 43 in the 2020-2021 season), and when he's on the court, he isn't as mobile as a rim protector as he once was.
His three-point shooting can also be a bit inconsistent: he infamously made NBA Twitter headlines last postseason for stinking it up in the Playoffs (13.1 points on below thirty percent shooting from deep). Since his whole thing is being a 7'0 floor spacer and rim runner, Porzingis needs that three-point shot to be a lot more consistent.
A major critique of Porzingis' game is his avoidance of the paint. Since KP is rather tall and thin, opposing bigs can easily push him around in the paint. Porzingis, as a result, shies away from playing under the basket. Personally, I think it's fine if Porzingis doesn't live under the rim like many old heads want him too. He can get a decent amount of looks running the pick-and-roll with Doncic anyway, and he's shown that he can attack a hard closeout. That doesn't mean that Porzingis should be fine the way he is, though: he needs a bit more bulk and some semblance of willingness to bang bodies to add pressure to defenses. A 7'0 guy that can shoot threes AND punish you for respecting his range is a dangerous opponent.
Tim Hardaway, Jr.
Luka Doncic is an amazing basketball player, but he's a human basketball player. No matter how good he performs on the court, he needs to rest too. someone needs to run the Mavs offense whenever Luka rests. That responsibility falls onto Doncic's backcourt mate: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has always been known as a potentially dangerous scorer since he was drafted into the league eight years ago. In Dallas, he has showcased that potential, scoring 16.1 points per game on decent to great efficiency (around 43% from the field, and around 39% from deep). Hardaway Jr. has also proven that he could do it when it matters most, as he was one of the only guys who showed up to help Luka Doncic in their last series versus the Clippers (17 points per game).
The Mavs do need him to step up more, though, since they've added basically nothing to their roster of significant value to help out Doncic. If he can break out as an All-Star this year, it would be an immense help to the Mavs. He's already an elite spot-up threat for the Mavs, ranking in the 70th percentile league-wide last season. That skill is a valauble asset for a team like the Mavs, who have a god-tier playmaker in Doncic. One area he can improve on is his isolation scoring: he has the chops to be an elite off-the-bounce scorer to lead bench units without Luka, but last season he ranked only in the 46th percentile in isolation scoring.
It's going to be an uphill battle for the Mavs, as they come into the season with a new head coach and virtually the same roster they had last season. However, if Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. make significant developmental leaps, Luka Doncic and the Mavs will be a terrifying team to face in the Playoffs.
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