Mavericks’ Offseason Targets: Brooklyn Nets

The Dallas Mavericks could potentially have as few as three players (Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, and Devin Harris are the only guaranteed deals on roster) under contract when the offseason gets rolling.

If we’ve learned one thing from previous seasons it’s that Mark Cuban and the front office will do whatever they can to explore every option on the market.

Whether it be via free agency or trades, the Mavericks will have plenty of work to do to fill and improve the roster.

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We’ll be exploring every NBA team’s roster to see which players the Mavs could potentially target this offseason.

Yesterday: The Boston Celtics.

This time…

Brooklyn Nets

Feb 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward

(7) and guard

(0) and guard

(8) walk onto the court during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Nets 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Free Agents

Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young both have player options and could leave the Nets in a very bad situation if they elect to opt out.

Lopez, 27, had a pretty good season. Despite starting just 44 of the 72 games he played in, he averaged 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. He wouldn’t be a great fit next to Nowtizki due to his lack of defense, rebounding, and athleticism, so interest in Lopez, if he were to opt out, would probably be a last resort type of move.

Young played in 28 games (20 starts) with the team after being acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett. The tweener forward showed improved range in Brooklyn; he shot 38% from three while also scoring 13.8 points a night and snatching 5.9 rebounds. He could be a great bench piece behind both Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons.

Alan Anderson (player option) and Mirza Teletovic could be decent bench pieces as well.

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Trade Targets

The Nets have a few terrible deals on their roster: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Jarret Jack. Which is why losing Lopez for nothing will make this team far worse than it already is.

The Mavericks caught a major break when Williams spurned them seasons ago. Once in discussion for top point guard, Williams has seen his points per game drop from 21 in 2012 to a mere 13 this season. And for the third straight season he’s averaged below his career averaged of 8.5 assists; he dished out just 6.6 this season. He also shot a career low 38.7% from the field.

Soon to be 31, it’s unlikely to see Williams climb back up the ranks of the NBA point guards. But we know the Mavericks like to take risks, so bringing in Williams hefty deal for nothing could be an option for Mark Cuban.

Like Williams, Johnson has a huge salary for the 2015-2016 season, but unlike Williams, his deal is set to expire. Monta Ellis‘s future in Dallas is a big question mark at the moment, so the Mavs could look to take on “Iso Joe’s” deal as a one year filler before the new CBA kicks in.

Jack isn’t much of an upgrade over Harris and Raymond Felton, but the Mavs seem to always need and bring in a point guard or two.