What Are the Mavs Getting in Seth Curry?

The often, uber-aggressive Mavericks changed their free agency philosophy ever so slightly this summer, bringing in Seth Curry from the Sacramento Kings.

The 6”2 point guard from Duke spent some time in the Warriors camp with his older brother Steph, before latching onto a roster spot with George Karl‘s Kings. Stuck behind two former Mavs, Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison, there was not much room for Curry to showcase a unique shooting touch that only people in his family tree possess immediately when they enter the league.

Sitting out on the free agent market by himself, the Mavs nabbed Curry at a reasonable price, $6 million over two years. While his 6 PPG career average won’t thrill anybody, his 45% shooting certainly should, as should his untapped potential. The Mavs have needed this kind of player for years.

The last time they had a talented, developmental guard on the right side of 30 was Rodrigue Beaubois. While the Mavs may coincidentally bring the Frenchman back, Curry looks to have locked down a firm place in the Mavs rotation. Deron Williams, J.J. Barea, and Devin Harris continue to creep further and further into the downside of their careers, opening a massive hole for a guard who could contribute meaningful minutes off the bench without a major injury history or the concern of being worn down over the course of a long season.

At just 25, Curry has those valuable fresh legs to go along with an underrated supply of NBA talent. While clearly not the ball handler or outside shooter that his older brother is, Curry is a superb passer. Curry’s vision off of pick-and-rolls as well as on the fast-break in the open floor greatly improved the efficiency of Sacramento’s office once Rondo’s horrific floor-spacing hit the bench.

Unknown to most Mavs fans, the Mavs and the Kings roster are strangely similar. Curry will step into a situation he will be comfortable with without having to change any of his offensive philosophy. Harrison Barnes and Rudy Gay may certainly put up different numbers, but both of them attack the rim the same amount, take lots of corner threes, and rarely get to the foul line.

Just like Marco Belinelli in Sacramento, the Mavs have a great three-point shooter to provide some space for Curry’s drives in Wesley Matthews. At center, the Mavs certainly don’t have a superstar talent like Demarcus Cousins, but Curry was typically on the floor with backup center Kosta Koufos in Sacramento.

Bogut and Koufos are almost impossible to tell apart given their defensive, rebounding, and pick-and-roll skills. Curry will not start along with Andrew Bogut, but he certainly will play alongside Tunisian Salah Mejri, who is simply a worse version of Koufos and Bogut. Dirk’s post-up, offensive oriented game will be familiar to Curry given his time on the practice court and occasionally on the floor with Demarcus Cousins.

It is no secret that Rick Carlisle is among the best, if not the very best, at maximizing the output of his often so-so rosters. Just as he did with cast-offs Vince Carter, Jose Calderon, Monta Ellis, Zaza Pachulia, and is currently doing with Devin Harris, J.J. Barea and Deron Williams, Carlisle will now be tasked with doing the same with Seth Curry. Only this time, does Carlisle have the ability to turn the seldom used player into a star, rather than a solid veteran contributor as so many Mavs have been before. While hoping to do the same with Harrison Barnes and newly signed Quincy Acy, Carlisle can look to improve the already silky-smooth offensive talent that is Curry, into an all-around NBA star.

At just 25, Curry has years to develop his repertoire into a more all around game. Many veterans in the past, like the ones mentioned earlier, simply do not have that time anymore. Carlisle has the luxury of being patient with Curry’s raw skill set, but does not have to wait a second to use him as an effective scoring option off the bench. The Mavs have needed a capable, young player off of their bench for the better part of the last five seasons.

While no one will immediately earn Rick Carlisle’s trust quite like Raymond Felton did this past season, the Mavs bench received a shot in the arm with Curry’s addition. There will be no shortage of growing pains for the youngster, but the Mavs should be excited about their new point guard who will play vital minutes this season.

A talented scorer, passer, and ball-handler, Curry will provide the Mavs with needed offense off the bench and should help the Mavs with the inevitable shooting woes they run into between Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews.

Next: Andrew Bogut Chose Dallas Over Houston

Rick Carlisle has another toy in the toolshed to use this coming season, a certain kind of toy the Mavs have sorely needed for years.