The Dallas Mavericks have had a pretty successful offseason makeover, adding the likes of Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes to the roster. The team still has one more spot to fill in their rotation, with plenty of talented players in the NBA who’d welcome the chance to play on a contender like the Mavericks.
Late offseason signings for the minimum like Derrick Jones Jr. and Dante Exum were instrumental in the Mavericks’ Finals push last season, so who are the best candidates still available on the market for the Mavs to fill their 15th roster spot with? Let’s take a look at the best options available.
Dennis Smith Jr.
2023-24 Season Stats: 6.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG; 43.5 FG%, 29.4 3P%Â
Dennis Smith Jr. was supposed to be the point guard of the future for the Dallas Mavericks when he was drafted in 2017 by the franchise. Unfortunately, plans changed quickly when the Mavericks landed both Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson on the 2018 NBA Draft night, shortening DSJ’s stay with the Mavericks as he was traded to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019.
Smith Jr. has struggled to find a home in the NBA since leaving Dallas, as the non-shooting guard has played for the Knicks, Hornets, and most recently, the Nets. He’s one of the best guard-defenders in the NBA and has proven to be an athletic point guard who could contribute at a high level.Â
The Mavericks are still looking to add defense to their guard rotation behind Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Jaden Hardy, with DSJ being the perfect fit.Â
Spencer Dinwiddie
2023-24 Season Stats: 10.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG; 39.2 FG%, 33.7 3P%
Another former Maverick, Spencer Dinwiddie played a crucial role in the Mavericks 2022 Conference Finals run as the team’s sixth man. He couldn’t replicate that impact as a starter and would be traded for Kyrie Irving in the winter of 2023, having a rough season with the Nets before joining the Lakers and being a non-factor last season. Dinwiddie chose the Lakers over the Mavericks last winter, but it seems he could be a target to rejoin Dallas this summer.
Dinwiddie’s utility isn’t as defined as Smith Jr.’s, but he provides an interesting factor on offense that could be utilized. He’s a proven fit next to Doncic and could be a more stable offensive replacement for the outgoing Tim Hardaway Jr., especially if Jaden Hardy is still not able to find a consistent spot in the Mavericks rotation. His scoring versatility could make him incredibly useful for a Mavs team whose offense has somehow worsened since Dinwiddie was last on the squad.
Gordon Hayward
2023-24 Season Stats: 9.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG; 46.4 FG%, 41.4 3P%
Gordon Hayward looked like a shell of his past self last season, playing for the Charlotte Hornets before failing to make an impact on the rotation of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks have seen Hayward not be able to make an impact on a Playoff rotation, so looking at him as their 15th roster member could seem foolish. But Hayward adds wing depth for a team that desperately lacks it while being a positive mentor for the mostly young squad.
Hayward’s addition could lead to a boost for P.J. Washington, who played alongside him on the Hornets, as well as Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who could develop his offensive game more if he had someone like Hayward alongside him. The Mavericks are unlikely to give the 34-year-old forward a rotational role, but he definitely fits on the roster if they need buckets in a pinch.
Markelle Fultz
2023-24 Season Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG; 47.2 FG%, 22.2 3P%
Former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz will be on his way out of the Orlando Magic as the franchise commits to a guard core featuring Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, and Anthony Black. With the 26-year-old Fultz on the market, multiple contending teams could be interested in getting a value signing on the minimum for a player of Fultz’s caliber.
His shooting will be a major reason why teams will be trepidatious in acquiring Fultz, but he has a lot more assets that could be employed effectively on the Mavericks. The team has lacked a consistent secondary playmaker behind Doncic, with Kyrie and Hardy excelling as scorers instead of playcreators. Fultz could come off the bench and have an all-shooting lineup around him and make up for the offensive gaps the Mavericks have in non-Doncic minutes.Â
Lonnie Walker IV
2023-24 Season Stats: 9.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG; 42.3 FG%, 38.4 3P%
Lonnie Walker IV is surprisingly still a free agent, despite proving his value as a scorer in the NBA in recent seasons. Walker has been a journeyman ever since his rookie contract with the Spurs ran out, having played on minimum deals with the Lakers and Nets in the last two seasons. Even with him proving he could be a playoff-caliber player during the Lakers’ run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals, interest in the scorer seems low.
The Mavericks still have to address scoring off the bench beyond Jaden Hardy, with Lonnie Walker fitting the bill well. He’s comfortable playing off-ball as well as getting you a bucket when needed. He can be a three-level scorer off the bench for the franchise, making sure that the team doesn’t fall into the same offensive dry spells they did in the 2024 NBA Finals.
This list features guards and one forward because that’s exactly what the Mavericks need. They have their two big men in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, with backups such as Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell ready to step in. So, it’s clear the Mavericks’ biggest need this offseason is additional guard play off the bench, but adding a forward wouldn’t hurt the championship contenders either.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
