Gordon Hayward joins the Boston Celtics, Paul George gets traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Jamal Crawford agrees to a buyout with the Atlanta Hawks then signs with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That’s only a fraction of what’s happened during free agency.
The Dallas Mavericks have been fairly quiet during this free agent period, which hasn’t always been the case these last few years. That’s a great thing for a team looking to gradually get younger.
However, there are still some solid players that are available for Dallas to sign, including some that are currently on their summer league roster. Dallas has team options on Dorian Finney-Smith and Nicolas Brussino and they have yet to sign Nerlens Noel to a long-term deal.
While taking into consideration Dallas’ cap space, here are some options that the Mavericks could go after to help fill out their available roster spots.
Nerlens Noel – Center – Restricted Free Agent
It’s only a matter of time as to when Dallas will come out with an offer. The front office is handling his contract situation the correct way by allowing Noel to test free agency to see what his market value is.
There haven’t been any major rumors surrounding the young center and no major offers have been made yet. Dallas has made it clear that Noel was going to be a top priority for them heading into the summer. Let’s hope no max offers are made to him and let’s hope Dallas can get him at a reasonable price.
Dorian Finney-Smith – Small Forward – Team Option
Dorian Finney-Smith could fit in really well with Dallas’ plan to get younger. He has a team-friendly contract valued at $1,312,611 for the 2017-18 season. He can provide depth at the small forward position while also providing solid defense on the perimeter.
He hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, however, he shot 42.6 percent from three-point range when he was at the University of Florida so we know he can shoot. The key is for the coaching staff to continue to develop him. His current salary makes it a no-brainer.
Nicolas Brussino – Small Forward – Team Option
Like Dorian Finney-Smith, Nicolas Brussino has a contract valued at $1,312,611. His numbers won’t jump out on the stat sheet, however, he’s a player that can come off the bench and stretch the floor if he needs to. He’s also a smart player at an even better price.
Terrence Jones – Power Forward – Unrestricted Free Agent
Whatever happened to Terrence Jones? He had a strong sophomore season with the Houston Rockets and he’s even posted decent numbers since then. He’s yet to complete a full 82-game season, however, his overall statistics aren’t bad for a power forward playing limited time.
He’s averaged 10.5 points along with 5.7 rebounds per game for his professional career. He doesn’t shoot the three well, but his overall shooting percentage of 50 percent is strong enough to turn some heads. So why can’t he stay on an NBA team? We may not have the answer to this, but he may be a player worth considering.
Ding Yanyuhang – Small Forward – Potential Two-Way Contract
The “Dinganator” has turned some heads during his summer league play in Orlando and Las Vegas. The MVP of the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) has become a fan favorite over the last month and he could be a candidate that earns the last two-way contract that Dallas can offer. The first two-way contract went to Baylor’s Johnathan Motley.
There’s little risk when it comes to these two-way contracts, however, Dallas could help with Ding’s transition into the NBA by offering him such a deal. He’s a small forward that can shoot the three, rebound the ball, and he plays with a strong amount of energy. With his skill-set, he could be a great addition to Rick Carlisle’s flow offense. Plus, he’ll be an instant fan favorite in Dallas.
The Mavericks have some roster spots to fill and they’ll have to make some decisions on which direction they want to go. NBA free agency has slowed down a bit the last couple of weeks, but there are certainly some good players still available.
The possible core of Nerlens Noel, Harrison Barnes, and Dennis Smith Jr. could be a huge stepping stone for the entire franchise. Adding additional young players to this core could lift the Mavericks back into basketball relevancy.
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