- The Dallas Mavericks missed the playoffs last season after reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2022
- The Mavericks acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade
- Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will have other new teammates as well besides Williams
The Dallas Mavericks regressed mightily in 2022-23, winning only 38 games and not qualifying for the play-in tournament after reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2022. The Kyrie Irving trade didn’t work out well for the Mavericks, who were only 5-11 when Irving and Luka Doncic played.
Dallas’ front office was busy this offseason. The Mavericks re-signed Irving and Dwight Powell, signed Seth Curry, Dante Exum, and Derrick Jones Jr., and acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics and Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings.
There will be a new starting lineup next season for the Mavericks, who traded Reggie Bullock to the San Antonio Spurs and parted ways with Christian Wood and JaVale McGee.
Point Guards
Starter: Luka Doncic
Reserve: Dante Exum
Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA. He has appeared in 330 games with the Mavericks, averaging 27.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists. The 24-year-old Doncic has already made four All-Star teams and four All-NBA teams. The talented point forward also won the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year Award.
Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists last season for the Mavericks while shooting 49.6% from the field, 34.2% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. He recorded 36 double-doubles and 10 triple-doubles in 66 games.
Doncic signed a five-year, $215 million extension with the Mavericks in August 2021. He’ll make $40 million next season. Dallas’ front office has to make sure it keeps Doncic happy since the superstar made some intriguing comments after the 2022-23 season ended: “Something’s got to change for sure.”
Shooting Guards
Starter: Kyrie Irving
Reserves: Jaden Hardy, Seth Curry
Kyrie Irving re-signed with the Mavericks on the first day of free agency on a three-year, $126 million contract. The eight-time All-Star averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with Dallas last season. Irving finished the 2022-23 season with averages of 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists with the Brooklyn Nets and Mavericks.
An anonymous member of the Mavericks told Keith Smith of Spotrac in July that re-signing Irving “was priority number one.” It appears Dallas didn’t listen to what NBA pundits were saying after the 2022-23 season ended. Many people around the league urged the Mavericks to let Irving go since the team didn’t play well after acquiring him.
“Re-signing Kyrie Irving was priority number one,” the anonymous member of the Mavericks told Smith. “Adding depth to our frontcourt was probably next on the list. And adding some young talent that fit with Kyrie and Luka was also high on the priority list. We feel like we accomplished all of those goals, even if there is still work to be done.”
Irving has a 15% trade kicker in his new contract with the Mavericks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. A trade kicker is the percentage of a player’s salary that is awarded as a bonus in the event of a trade.
Small Forwards
Starter: Josh Green
Reserve: Tim Hardaway Jr.
Josh Green appeared in 60 games for the Mavericks last season. He averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 53.7% from the floor, 40.2% from beyond the arc, and 72.3% from the free-throw line.
Green has career averages of 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 166 games with the Mavericks. Dallas drafted him with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Arizona. The Mavericks are 91-75 when Green plays.
Dallas has “opened initial talks on a contract extension” with Green, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. Green would become a restricted free agent next summer if he and the Mavericks don’t agree to a rookie-scale extension by October 23.
During an interview with Olgun Uluc of ESPN in August, Green said he was hopeful for a contract extension with the Mavericks.
“I hope it happens,” Green said. “I want to be in Dallas. I love Dallas. I love the fanbase, love the guys. To think I could be in Dallas long-term would be amazing.”
Power Forwards
Starter: Grant Williams
Reserves: Maxi Kleber, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Derrick Jones Jr.
Grant Williams signed a four-year, $54 million contract as part of the sign-and-trade deal between the Mavericks and Celtics. He is expected to make roughly $4-5 million more by signing with Dallas than if he signed the same deal with Boston due to state income taxes.
Williams averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Celtics last season while shooting 45.4% from the field, 39.5% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line in 79 games.
The Mavericks needed more win-now players around Irving and Doncic and Williams fits that bill. The Celtics went 181-107 with Williams in the lineup.
“The talent on this team is absurd,” Williams told Jared Weiss of The Athletic after joining the Mavericks. “Kyrie and Luka, being able to put two superstars of that nature, two top 10 players or whatever you want to say, Kyrie is one of the best point guards in the league still.”
Centers
Starter: Dwight Powell
Reserves: Richaun Holmes, Dereck Lively II
Dwight Powell averaged 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Mavericks last season in 76 games while shooting 73.2% from the field. He projects to be the starter at center since Christian Wood and JaVale McGee are no longer on the roster.
Powell signed a three-year, $12 million contract this summer in unrestricted free agency. He has career averages of 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists with the Celtics and Mavericks. The 32-year-old has developed strong chemistry with Doncic in the pick-and-roll game.
The Mavericks have tried to trade for Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela this offseason. It’s possible Powell heard about this rumor and will use it as motivation to have his best season yet in 2023-24.
