Five free agent targets the Mavericks should consider

The Dallas Mavericks have themselves a hefty amount of cap space, as well as a roster full of young players with boatloads of potential. Which free agents can they add to their team to give their rebuild some more traction? Here are five free agent targets the Mavs should keep tabs on.

5. Dante Exum

Exum is a restricted free agent, so it might take a few more dollars to pry him away from Utah. The Jazz aren’t tied up in as much money after the departure of Gordon Hayward and George Hill last year, but have free agent targets of their own and won’t be able to pay Exum premium free agent money. The drafting of Grayson Allen also suggests that the Jazz may be adding insurance to their roster in the event Exum leaves.

During their two playoff match-ups against the Thunder and Rockets, Exum was excellent on both ends of the floor for the Jazz. Not only is he a capable defender with the footwork to stay with even the best of offensive guards, but he showed tremendous offensive strides in his contract year.

Exum is extremely aggressive attacking the basket and possesses the hustle and grit that rebuilding teams so often covet. With Wesley Matthews’ days in Dallas numbered, Exum would be a potent option for the Mavs to replace him in the rotation.

4. DeAndre Jordan

While it doesn’t seem as though DeAndre Jordan really moves the needle for the Mavericks long term, he has no shortage of ability on the court and would provide the Mavs with the defensive anchor they have needed for so long in the paint.

Jordan is also one of the game’s best rebounders and could help secure defensive stops for a team that finished 29th in rebounding a season ago. The two sides seem to have put the infamous hostage situation from several seasons ago behind them, and a “reunion” in Dallas could very well be possible.

With the Clippers’ acquisition of Marcin Gortat, it would appear as though Jordan is on his way out of Los Angeles. The deadline for him to make a decision on the final year of his deal is Friday, and he could decide to opt into the final season of his contract to facilitate a possible trade. The Mavs are interested and could conceivably come up with an interesting trade package for the Clippers.

Jordan by no means is the “big fish” that the Mavs are hoping to add to their young backcourt, but he could be a complimentary championship piece if the Mavs can get their hands on a bigger star. The Mavs will be giving the Atlanta Hawks a first round pick at some point over the next five years, which may force their hands into free agency a little bit more.

3. Alex Len

Alex Len has been misused and poorly developed in Phoenix. Without a spot for him in the rotation now that Deandre Ayton is in town, and with Tyson Chandler still in the mix, the Suns won’t be bringing back the athletic big man.

Desperate for a center, Len could be a sneaky good move for the Mavericks as they search for diamonds in the rough. Defensively stout and a good rim-runner, Len is still young enough to be developed by significantly better coaching in Dallas and could take the reigns as the starting center.

Len won’t require quite as much money from the Mavs compared to some of the other big names on the free agent big board. Signing Len could still leave enough money for the Mavs to get players using cap space rather than having to sort for a player who could fit one of the cap exceptions. Likely on his way out of Phoenix, and with a solid all around game at a premium age, the Mavs should make a call to Len at 12:01 P.M. on July 1st.

2. DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins is the biggest name that the Mavs have any realistic shot at nabbing in free agency. The Pelicans performed better on the court without him statistically, but clearly missed him in their playoff series against the Warriors.

Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury is scary, but the Mavs have first-hand experience dealing with this kind of injury after bringing in Wesley Matthews. Cousins is the most expensive name on this list and would make life nerve-wracking for Mavs fans hoping that his Achilles isn’t a ticking time bomb. Still, there is no question that he is one of the league’s best big men.

Adding Cousins to the lineup would make the team very interesting offensively, but porous defensively. Cousins is not much of a rim protector and struggles on the perimeter, and the Mavs desperately need a defensive anchor in the paint given the questions about the defensive prowess of Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic.

The Mavs may be closer to a playoff hunt than some think given that they were appallingly bad in close games last season. An addition like Cousins along with Doncic could jolt the Mavericks back into the race for the eighth seed in the west.

1. Marcus Smart

Every championship team needs a player like Marcus Smart. Rugged, defensive minded, and bruising, Smart should be coveted by all thirty teams across the NBA. What he lacks in offensive ability, he makes up for with tenacity, fearlessness, and selfless play.

The Mavs need players like Smart in tow while they go forward with their rebuild. The Mavs also need a shot in the arm defensively given the uncertainties on that end of the floor in their starting lineup.

Smart could be the odd man out in Boston. With big contracts already being dolled out to Al Horford, Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. Smart’s free agency could be a tricky one for Boston as they have other lofty free agency goals. The Mavs should have Smart firmly in their crosshairs on July 1st and should prioritize adding an extremely valuable asset to a championship team over signing a big man just to sign a big man.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: Under the radar free agent centers

However free agency pans out for the Mavericks, this summer should signal a change for the franchise, as they have the cap space and the exciting backcourt of Smith Jr., and Doncic to attract free agents.