The Dallas Mavericks are having an interesting offseason, to say the least, with there being varying opinions on the success of the summer for the Mavs. While they added much-needed size to the team with Christian Wood and JaVale McGee, the Mavs ended up losing their secondary star, Jalen Brunson, for nothing as he walked to the New York Knicks.
Due to the Mavs having Luka Doncic, everyone expects the production that the team got from Brunson to come from the rest of the players on the team. They have the core that overperformed last season intact while adding better big men, meaning many have tried saying the Mavs are a better team now than they were during the playoffs.
Alex Caruso understands the loss of Brunson is going to hit the Mavs hard but still picked them to be the sleepers in the Western Conference next season, picking them for a possible Finals run.
Bulls G Alex Caruso was asked on the @OldManAndThree Podcast who his Western Conference NBA Finals sleeper team was for this upcoming season:
“For me I think even losing Jalen [Brunson] I think it’s Dallas [Mavericks]. #MFFL
(🎥: @OldManAndThree) pic.twitter.com/492pGsCdu4
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) July 18, 2022
“For me, I think even losing Jalen Brunson, it’s Dallas. I don’t think they count as a sleeper pick, but I know how J-Kidd operates, I know how Duds operates, I know how Greg St. Jean operates, one of the best basketball minds in the game. I know how those guys operate, mentally.”
“The star power that Luka has, he’s only going to get better. Even this year, I thought they had a chance to get there. Obviously, they reached the WCF. This might not be a sleeper pick, but I don’t think beginning of the season anyone is going to be saying Dallas will be back there.”
The Mavericks definitely have the capability to get hot and shoot their way all the way to the NBA Finals, something that almost happened this season. With the return of Tim Hardaway Jr., the Mavs will hope they have enough scorers on the squad.
Doncic makes this team tick, and they will go as far as he can take them. He took them further than anyone expected in 2021-22 and will replicate that by trying to make a Finals run with this squad.
