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Despite what we’ve seen in years past, come July 1, don’t expect the Dallas Mavericks to make a big splash in NBA free agency. Well, that is, attempt to make a big splash.
Mark Cuban and Co. have already reportedly declared the Mavs don’t plan on chasing the “big fish” when the league’s moratorium period officially commences on Saturday. Perhaps, it has something to do with the Mavs striking out on every big time free agent since what feels like the Reagan Administration, or perhaps it’s just a smokescreen. Surely, the Mavs will make an earnest attempt to land an instant-impact player on some level right?
Whether it’s “big fish” or not, luckily for the Mavs, this year’s NBA free agency class is littered with quality talent from tier one All-Stars to quality backups and role players at gettable prices for teams like the thrift shopping Mavs.
In honor of free agency, we explore ten free agents on the Mas wish list, from pipe-dreams to realistic fortunes.
Nerlens Noel
He’s priority 1a for the Mavericks, so expect them to match any offer the restricted free agent Kentucky Wildcat product receives. He’s expected to get a max contract. Is he worth it? Absoutely not. But if you look at the market for free agent centers in today’s NBA, it makes sense especially since Tyson Chandler ain’t walking through that door anytime soon. And even if he did, is that really a better option for the rebuilding Mavs?
Blake Griffin
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. He’s not a Mavs kind of guy, but at some point MFFLs have to put aside whatever resevrations they have about Griffin for his shear talent alone because the dude can straight ball out when healthy. In six season in the League, Griffin has never averaged less than 18 points a game. He’s an above average rebounder, with superior athleticism. He’s a five-time NBA All-Star, Three-time All-NBA Second Time and 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year. Of course, the knock on Griffin will be his injury history, having played just 163 out of a possible 243 games regular season games the past three seasons. The upside? Maybe it’s possible that drives his price down enough to get the Mavs a seat at the “Griffin to the Mavs” table.
Serge Ibaka
While the Mavs have length with Noel, Salah Mejri, and Dirk Nowitzki for that matter, they lack size. Insert the 6-10, 235-pound Ibaka, who despite eight seasons in the League, is still just 27 years-old and fits the Mavs plan to continue building a young core. Ibaka has the size and athleticism to slide from his traditional power forward position to the center position to help fill in for the oft-injured Noel. He relies mainly on garbage baskets for the majority of his points, but has shown the ability knock down shots consistently from mid-range and be effective in pick-and-rolls. Ibaka averaged 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, while shooting 48 percent from the field in 79 games with the Toronto Raptors last season. He’s four years removed from consecutive seasons as the NBA’s blocks leader. While he’s not been playing at the same level he played at it his OKC Thunder days, he falls right within the range of “gettable” guys.
Gordon Hayward
If there’s one thing we learned from Chandler Parsons’ tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, it’s that there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. Hayward is everything the Mavs had hoped they were getting when they signed Parsons to that bar room deal back in 2014. Hayward is a young, good looking, athletic cornerstone piece to a rebuilding franchise. Oh, and he also stays healthy. Unfortunately for the Mavs, they’ll simply be priced out of the Hayward sweepstakes, who will be looking to cash in on a max contract for a contending team after averaging career highs in points (21.9), rebounds (5.4) and shooting percentage (47.1%). He’s merely a pipe dream at this point.
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Dirk Nowitzki
He’s loyal to his city unlike…
Kevin Durant
He’d be great here, but the Mavs simply don’t have enough pieces to carry him to a championship.
Stephen Curry
That price is way too high, you need to cut it.
Nikola Mirotic
He’s not a household name. He’s hardly an NBA name. But, he’s a consistent name. The 26-year-old Mirotic is a dependable rotation player, hidden on the Chicago Bulls roster and has been for three seasons. He’s an excellent, deep ball shooting stretch-four that could relieve some pressure and minutes from Grandfather Time Dirk. After the Bulls drafted Dirk-clone, Lauri Markkanen, during the 2017 NBA Draft it signified what could be the end of Mirotic’s tenure in Chicago appears to be over. A restricted free agent, the Mavs will have to tread carefully with limited cap space.
Danilo Gallinari
The Mavs are anything but prepared for the post-Dirk Era and at this point no player will be able to fill that void even if it is a couple years away. Instead, the Mavs would be remised if they didn’t take advantage of Dirk’s final years by bringing in a guy that could learn under his wing. At 6-foot-10 and 225 pounds, the 28-year-old multi-dimensional Gallinari would be an easy plug and play option for Rick Carlisle and his staff. At 18.2 points per games, he’d fit the mold as an instant impact player that help bring the Mavs immediate fortunes next year and going forward, but they may not have the cap space to outbid other teams.
Dion Waiters
The former fourth overall draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Waiters becomes an intriguing player for the Mavs, especially if they find a way to move Wes Matthews’ hefty contract. The 25-year-old Waiters suits the long-term future of the Mavs going forward, just one year removed from settling on a two-year, $6 million prove-it contract with the Miami Heat when he opted out this summer. Waiters reminds us of the Monta Ellis-type mold, whose attitude and swagger helped carry him to a breakout season, averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. He’s in line for a big pay day, but should the market dry up for the undersized guard, the Mavs may find a way to cash in.
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