The Dallas Mavericks have made some significant changes to their roster over the past few months. Dating back to the trade deadline and the acquisition of Anthony Davis and Max Christie from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs have seemingly continued the trend of adding former Lakers personnel to their team.
The recent addition of former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel to Jason Kidd’s coaching staff was met with favorable views. Additionally, the Mavs also signed a former Lakers skills coach, Phil Handy, to their team.
With Handy’s addition, the tally for former Lakers on this Dallas team has only increased, creating an interesting atmosphere within the franchise.
Among the players on the roster, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie, and Maxwell Lewis form the core of ex-Lakers players. Meanwhile, Jason Kidd, who was an assistant coach under Frank Vogel on the Lakers, has added two of his former colleagues to his staff.
The outlook for the Mavericks next season is fascinating, to say the least. Considering the kind of success the majority of the former Lakers’ personnel had in the 2020 NBA Bubble, it is safe to say that this camaraderie could be of benefit to Dallas, especially in light of their potential.
With Davis leading the side in the expected absence of Kyrie Irving due to injury, the Mavericks will be a competitive side in the West. Should he remain healthy, the big man remains one of the most talented players in the NBA.
Coming off a season of averaging 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, the 32-year-old will have to embrace the role of being the team’s anchor next season.
The addition of Russell in free agency has given the team some flexibility on the playmaking front. Last season, the guard notched an average of 12.6 points and 5.1 assists. After being traded from the Purple and Gold, Russell is set to be reunited with his former teammates in Dallas, and the pick-and-roll with him and Davis will be a sight to see for Mavs fans.
The development of players such as Max Christie and Maxwell Lewis will also be promising. Although Lewis received limited playing time last season, Christie emerged as a solid rotational player due to his two-way potential.
While emerging as a talented wing defender, Christie also showed offensive growth. He averaged 11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 36.4% shooting from three-point range during his time with the Mavs last season.
Apart from the former Lakers’ players on the roster, the Mavs also possess incredible talent of their own. With the likes of Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and PJ Washington on the side, the Mavericks also boast the presence of a future superstar in Cooper Flagg, their rookie this season.
With several solid pieces in place, the Mavs will look to make a rise through the Western Conference standings.
